My Story
When my spouse and I went looking for a dining table, we faced a familiar dilemma: we loved what we couldn’t afford and could afford what we didn’t love. We wanted something elegant, artistic, and built to last—but nothing in the stores matched our vision.
Then we visited friends who had built their own live-edge bar table from raw wood and iron piping. I was captivated. The idea of shaping something so beautiful from a raw slab lit a fire in me. Why settle for mass-produced when I could build something better by hand?
After months of woodworking classes and tutorials, I chose two sister walnut slabs from a local mill; alive with knots, grain variation, and natural voids that felt alive with possibility.
Over many weekends, I crafted the piece by hand. I cleaned and debarked every surface and sanded carefully until the slab was smooth. I filled its voids with blue-tinted epoxy, creating glassy lakes that moved with the wood’s contours. The finished table far exceeded our hopes—a rich, organic landscape of wood and resin that still anchors our dining room.
That project sparked more than conversations. It sparked a calling. Branch & Bough Studio, owned and operated by Nike Carstarphen, creates handcrafted furniture that honors a tree’s natural form, highlights its unique character, and brings the beauty of nature into people’s homes.
My Approach
Listening to the Wood
Every piece begins with a question: What story does this wood want to tell? My job is to listen, not impose. Storytelling has always been central to my work as a conflict resolution and peacebuilding specialist, helping adversaries understand each other’s stories and create something new together. I apply those same skills to woodworking.
Thoughtful Design Process
The first step is selecting a slab full of natural character. I study its grain, stresses, and beauty, then design to honor those traits—transforming raw timber into heirlooms built to last generations.
Rooted in Nature's Curves
Living near Antoni Gaudí’s work in Barcelona inspired me to reject strict symmetry in favor of movement and flow inspired by trees, waves, and wind. Every curve tells a story; every edge reflects the tree’s journey.
Embracing Imperfection
Guided by the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, I see cracks, knots, and irregular edges as features to celebrate, not flaws. With careful craftsmanship and pigmented epoxy, I create rivers, lakes, and pools that highlight what nature left behind. What might seem like imperfections become the piece's most stunning elements.
Eco-conscious Craft
I use responsibly sourced wood from local mills, minimize waste by designing around each slab’s form, and repurpose offcuts. My materials include low-VOC epoxy, plant-based oils, and water-based ceramic coatings for beauty and protection.
Branch & Bough Studio creates handcrafted furniture that celebrates wood’s natural beauty and reveals the stories hidden within.