Deadwood Tables – Living on the Edge

by Tracy McCoy

Born a Pastor’s son in upstate New York, craftsman Craig Decker has quite a story from there to his wood shop in Hollywood, Georgia. The family moved around often with his father’s calling. From New York to Ohio to Colorado and then back settling in Columbus, Ohio. While he always had an interest in woodwork, jobs kept him busy. He worked for many years as a service writer for a Chevrolet Dealer, then moving to marketing manager for 7UP and RC Cola. Self-taught at basically every profession he attempted, he excelled at marketing, so much so that the wine industry recruited him. The largest wine distributor in the country offered him a marketing position. He knew very little about wine when he began but as you might expect he became an AFICIONADO on the more than 100 brands produced by his employer.

Next up for Craig Decker was opening his own restaurant and adding a full-service wine shop stocking over 3500 brands. The business was so successful that one location grew to two to SEVEN! Working in all aspects of the restaurant and wine retailer businesses, Craig and his wife Laura found themselves working day and night. While he enjoyed the success of his endeavor, one night Laura turned to her husband and said “This is stupid, we are killing ourselves!”. Craig agreed and they began to liquidate and eventually left the business. “After that experience I began to play, building custom bikes. I found old motorcycles, traveling as far away as North Carolina to acquire them. I would flip the bike and resell it,” he said. “Laura and I love riding and we spend our free time exploring on my custom bike.”

When Craig’s dad passed away, he left behind a wood tools. Craig moved them to his motorcycle shop but and oil don’t mix”. The woodcrafting work took on and a friend who shared this interest joined him. Two craftsmen working under the same roof, feeding off of each other. Had this “jack of all trades” found his niche? It seemed so. His wife’s family had roots in White County near Cleveland, Georgia. The couple decided to move to Georgia to be closer to Laura’s father after the death of her mom. Having visited for years it was a good fit. The couple moved into her grandparent’s old home which Craig is of course, “working on”. Craig still enjoys great wine, an incredible meal, riding his motorcycle and tinkering with them, but finds his sweet spot in sawdust and watching his creations come to life.

Last year Craig opened a new wood shop just north of Clarkesville, adding a showroom. One step into the showroom of Deadwood Tables and you’ll agree he is where he is supposed to be. Creating primarily with live edge wood, his tables, wine racks, benches, barn doors, and accessories are made from Cherry, Walnut, and Maple. When he can get his hands on more rare varieties he does. The sky is truly the limit with Craig’s abilities. If you walk in with an idea as rudimentary as a sketch on a napkin, he can make it for you. Custom in every way from size, wood type, style, if you want it, he can do it.

One of his most popular tables is what is referred to as a River Table. Taking two live edge boards and putting them together filling in with different shades of epoxy creates an incredibly unique and beautiful piece of furniture. One you’d have to see to believe. A piece that impressed me in Craig’s showroom, that is conveniently connected to his work space, was an electric standing desk. Simply hitting a button adjusts the desk from sitting to standing which is so beneficial for those who work long hours at their desk. The quality of the furniture made at Deadwood Tables is exceptional. Craig has filled the showroom with a nice assortment of “samples” of what he can do. Live edge boards line the walls just waiting for your ideas! Perhaps the nicest part of a visit there is meeting the craftsman, who is a really nice guy, and being able to follow your piece through the process. “I send images as I make the piece of furniture so that changes can be made as I go.” Craig said, adding, “this involves the client in the process.”

Deadwood Tables and Craig Decker can be found at 107 Hollywood Church Road in Clarkesville, Georgia or visit them at deadwoodtables.com or on facebook..