The past few weeks have been interesting. With our daughter on summer break, things feel faster and yet slower all at the same time. As a business owner, wife, and mother, finding moments of quiet is essential to staying grounded. I’ve taken to meditating outside under the big oak trees in our yard here in Shelby. For some, that might seem a little silly, but to me, there’s an ancient wisdom that comes from sitting quietly with these decades-old trees. It’s a feeling of permanence and strength that I try to bring into my work every day.
That work, for my husband Lyle and me, is Southern Roots Designs. We are woodworkers, and we pour our hearts into creating custom, handcrafted furniture for homes across the greater Charlotte area. The other day, while sanding a set of lovely oak coffee tables in our shop—a process that feels like it takes a millennium and gives one an awful lot of time to think—I found the peace of the oaks and the purpose of my work coming into sharp focus.
It’s a story I feel compelled to share with anyone who has ever felt disappointed by a piece of furniture that didn’t last, or who is searching for something with real, enduring value for their home.
A Woodworker’s Dilemma: Seeing the Forest and the Trees
My point began to crystallize over several weeks. At least as long as I’ve been meditating outside, I’ve noticed logging trucks driving very loudly past our home, hauling huge loads of trees. All the branches are stripped away, leaving just the massive center bases. At first, they were mainly pine, and I’d see them a few times a day. I brought it to my husband’s attention, and he said it was likely wood for flooring or building materials.
Then one day, I saw one of those trucks carrying huge oak tree bases.
To be honest, it kind of gutted me. Yes, I know—insert tree-hugging jokes now. We’re woodworkers. We make our livelihood from working with wood. But seeing those magnificent, powerful trees reduced to raw materials on the back of a truck hit me hard. It forced me to confront a question that sits at the very heart of our craft: if we are going to use these incredible natural resources, what is our responsibility to them? And what is our promise to the clients in Charlotte and beyond who trust us to bring that wood into their homes?
The Likely Destination: A Look Inside the “Fast Furniture” Industry
That moment confirmed the path we were already on at Southern Roots Designs. We knew where many of those trees were likely headed: to large factories to be broken down, shredded, and pressed into composite materials for mass-produced “fast furniture.”
This is the furniture you see everywhere. It’s designed to look like solid oak or walnut, but it’s an illusion. Here’s what’s often underneath:
- Veneer Sheets: A paper-thin layer of real wood is glued on top of a core material to give the appearance of quality. It’s prone to peeling, chipping, and bubbling, and is nearly impossible to repair convincingly.
- Particleboard and MDF: The core is typically made from wood chips, dust, and fibers mixed with industrial adhesives. These materials lack the strength of solid wood, are highly susceptible to water damage, and can’t hold screws securely over time, leading to the dreaded wobble.
The result is furniture with a built-in end date. It’s designed to break down over 5 to 6 years so that you have to go out and buy a new one. It’s a cycle of consumption that benefits the manufacturer, not your family or your wallet.
Our Answer: Building with Intention and 100% Real Wood
Seeing those trucks solidified our mission. Our goal at Southern Roots Designs is that if we must use these magnificent trees, we do so consciously. We build with intention. We believe that if a piece of furniture is to be made, it should be made by true artisans using real, solid wood that will last for generations.
This philosophy guides every decision we make, from the materials we select to the methods we use. For our neighbors in Charlotte looking for an alternative to disposable furniture, this is the difference we offer.
The Soul of Solid Wood: Why It’s All We Use
When you invest in a piece from us, you are getting 100% real wood. Not fake wood materials. Not veneer sheets glued on top of pine. You are getting solid oak, walnut, cherry, or maple, and with it comes a host of benefits that engineered wood simply cannot match:
- Unmatched Durability: A solid wood dining table can host decades of family dinners, homework sessions, and holiday celebrations, and can be passed down to your children.
- The Grace of Aging: Real wood develops a rich patina over time, a unique character that reflects the life lived around it. Scratches and marks become part of its story, not a reason to discard it.
- Lasting Repairability: Should your piece get a deep scratch or a water ring, it can be professionally sanded and refinished to its original glory. It has a life beyond its first iteration—something impossible for veneered particleboard.
Mind and Hands: Our Promise of True Craftsmanship
Today, many workshops use computer-programmed CNC machines that can carve out magnificent designs and beautifully spindled legs for beds and tables with automated precision.
We don’t work that way.
We pride ourselves on not using them. We don’t mindlessly place wood into a machine and leave it to turn out a final product. Instead, we mathematically and carefully take measurements and calculate each and every project that comes through our shop. Everything is done using our minds and our hands. This legacy of craftsmanship was passed down to my husband, Lyle. After serving as a Green Beret, he trained under a master craftsman who took over a workshop with a history stretching back over 80 years.
This hands-on approach means every piece from Southern Roots Designs has a human element. It has been thought over, planned, and skillfully executed by artisans who have a deep respect for their craft. To learn more about our hands-on custom builds process, call us at (704) 674-8966.
For the True “Value Hunters” in Charlotte
I understand that our method will not appeal to everyone. Some have no problem with using imitation materials to achieve the “look” they want in their home for a few years. And that’s fine! We just aren’t the right fit for you.
The right customers will find us; the value hunters will find us, and that’s what we want.
But my definition of a “value hunter” isn’t someone looking for the cheapest price tag. A true value hunter is someone in Charlotte looking for the best long-term investment for their home and family. They understand that paying a little more for a solid wood, custom-built piece today means they won’t have to buy a replacement in five years, and their children won’t have to either.
A Perfect Fit for Your Charlotte Story
One of the greatest joys of our work is creating pieces that fit perfectly into our clients’ homes and lives. Charlotte’s neighborhoods are full of character, from the historic homes in Myers Park and Dilworth to the modern townhomes in NoDa and the beautiful lake houses near Mooresville. One-size-fits-all furniture simply can’t meet the unique needs of these diverse spaces.
We love collaborating with homeowners to design solutions that are just right for them.
- Creating a narrow, elegant console table for a historic entryway in Elizabeth.
- Building a massive, single-slab dining table that can serve as the heart of a spacious open-concept home in Ballantyne.
- Designing custom built-in bookshelves that turn an awkward nook into a stunning and functional library.
This is the beauty of bespoke. You get to choose the wood, the dimensions, the style, and the finish. The result is a piece that feels like it has always belonged in your home. See what we’ve built for other families in our gallery.
A Woodworker’s Advice: What to Look For
When you’re searching for quality furniture, here are a few things I always tell people to check:
- Open the drawers. Look for interlocking dovetail joints, not staples.
- Feel the piece. Solid wood is heavy and substantial.
- Examine the back. Manufacturers often skimp on the back panels. A quality piece will be finished just as carefully on the back as it is on the front.
- Ask about the finish. A good finish protects the wood while letting its natural beauty shine through.
- Trust your hands. Run your hand over the surface. You can feel the difference between real wood and a plastic-like veneer.
Let’s Build Your Family’s Next Heirloom Together
The furniture in your home should be more than just stuff. It should be the stage upon which your life unfolds—the dining table where stories are shared, the coffee table surrounded by laughter, the bed where you dream. These pieces should be as strong and dependable as the memories they will hold.
At Southern Roots Designs, we don’t just build furniture; we craft future heirlooms. We build with a conscience, with respect for the wood, and with a deep appreciation for the families in Charlotte, Shelby, and beyond who trust us to be a part of their homes. This commitment extends to our land as well; through our initiative to help restore the American Chestnut by planting a tree for every 250 board feet of wood we use—a mission supported by the great work of organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC){:target=”_blank”}—we invest back into the future.
If you believe in craftsmanship over convenience and lasting value over fleeting trends, we would be honored to build something for you.
To begin your journey toward a truly custom piece of furniture, please reach out to us at Southern Roots Designs. You can call me and Lyle directly at (704) 674-8966 or tell us about your vision by requesting a custom estimate on our website.