How to Care for Your Solid Hardwood Piece| Ballard Grain & Blade
How to keep cherry and walnut looking rich for decades — re-oiling, washing, and what to avoid.
8 min readBallard Grain and Blade
Functional woodcraft Made beautifully.
We create beautiful, functional woodcraft while bringing the customer into the story of how it’s made. Customers don’t simply receive a finished piece, they experience it becoming theirs.
Our Story
Functional Woodcraft Made Beautifully
100%
Solid Wood
0
Veneers, ever
Ballard Grain & Blade began with a simple belief: the things we use every day should be made well enough to last and beautiful enough to leave on display. We create functional solid-wood pieces designed to bring warmth, organization, and craftsmanship into the home.
Every piece begins in the shop with carefully selected hardwood and a practical purpose. From kitchen storage and entryway organization to one-of-a-kind custom work, each design is shaped around how it will actually be used, not just how it looks.
Each piece is handcrafted one at a time from real hardwood, with close attention paid to grain, proportion, joinery, and finish. No veneer. No imitation wood. Just thoughtfully made pieces designed to develop character and become part of your home over time.
Make what you use every day easier to reach and beautiful enough to display.
01
100% Solid Wood
Never veneer. Every piece is real, solid hardwood — cherry, walnut, maple, and more.
02
Handcrafted, One at a Time
Each item is shaped, sanded, and finished by hand — no two pieces are ever exactly alike.
03
Built to Be Used
Beautiful enough to display, durable enough for daily life — sealed with food-safe finishes.
What we make
Three ways to bring solid wood home.
From kitchen accessories ready to ship today, to fully custom builds shaped from your inspiration — every piece is handcrafted in solid hardwood and finished with food-safe oils.
The Collection
Handcrafted pieces, ready for your home.
Every piece is shaped from 100% solid hardwood and finished with food-safe Oil.
Portfolio
Craftsmanship up close.
A growing gallery of custom builds, grain studies, and the small details that make each piece one of a kind.
Commissioned a piece? Send us a photo — we love sharing finished work.
Reviews
Kind words from our customers.
“They are SO quick with producing a quality product. I spoke with Karene on Facebook Marketplace and she was so sweet, so accommodating and so communicative throughout the entire process. The price of their homemade goods is a great deal as well, it feels high quality for amazing prices. I have nothing but good to say about this small business and would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a knife holder but wants it to be unique to their home and not just something you bought on amazon. It comes from local crafters who put love into their pieces”
Samantha
“We bought the magnetic knife holder and mounted it on the wall behind our stove. It is clearly a quality, hand-made product. Edges were finished with a slightly rounded feel. We wanted a darker stain that would complement our kitchen floor and that's exactly what we got. It was perfect!”
Sharilyn
“We are absolutely in love with our personalized height board! The wood-burned details are so beautiful, and having my babies names and birth lengths included makes it such a special piece for our home. It's the perfect mix of timeless and meaningful. You can tell so much love and care goes into every detail. It's one of my favorite things we've gotten for the girls and I know it'll be something we treasure for years to come as we watch them grow. Thank you for creating such a beautiful keepsake - we couldn't be happier!”
Shelby
Start your custom project
Have a space that isn't working? Let's make it work beautifully
Have a space nothing seems to fit? Let’s make something that does. Tell us about your space, what you need, or the idea you have in mind. Not sure what the solution is yet? That’s okay! We’re happy to help you figure out what will work best for your space.
What to expect
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Wood selectionWe regularly work with cherry, walnut, maple, white oak, and other domestic hardwoods. Have a different wood species in mind? Just ask. We’re happy to explore other options and source the right wood for your project.
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Lead timesTypically 3–8 weeks depending on scope and current shop schedule. You'll know what to expect for your project prior to paying the deposit.
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Deposit50% to begin; balance due before shipping or pickup.
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FinishAll of our work is finished with high-quality oils and finishes that are food safe as appropriate. Our favorite is Odie's Oil, but customers are included in finish decisions for their custom orders.
Journal
From the Shop
Wood care, material guides, and behind-the-scenes stories about how our solid hardwood pieces are made and meant to be used.
Why we love domestic hardwoods
Cherry, walnut, white oak, maple — what makes each one special, and how to choose for your home.
2 min read
From rough board to finished piece
A walk through the shop — how a single walnut plank becomes a wall-mounted knife holder.
2 min readGood to know
Frequently asked.
Not Necessarily, Because each Ballard Grain and Blade piece is made individually, choosing custom dimensions or details doesn't automatically mean a higher price. Pricing is based on the size, materials, design, and complexity of the piece, not simply whether its custom.
Absolutely! If you have an awkward wall, narrow entryway, unused corner, or another space you're not sure how to use, send us a photo along with any measurements you have. We can help you explore ideas for a handcrafted piece that fits the space, works for how you use it, and complements your home. You don't need to have the solution figured out before reaching out.
Every piece is finished with high-quality finish (food safe when appropriate), which enhances the natural color of the wood and provides durable, non-toxic protection. Safe for kitchen use. Our favorite brand is Odie's Oil, and you'll find most of our pieces are finished with one of their products.
Hand wash only, never run wood through the dishwasher. Wipe dry promptly. See https://ballardgrainandblade.com/how-to-care-for-solid-hardwood/ for more details
We ship throughout the United States. Local pickup is also available for customers in our area, just choose 'Local Pickup' at checkout.
Ready-Made items are in stock and ship within a few days. Made-to-Order items are built to your specifications (wood species, size, finish) and typically ship in 7-10 business days.
Use the Custom Commission form to share your idea, timeline, and budget. We'll respond within a few days to discuss feasibility. A 50% deposit secures your spot in the build schedule; the full balance will be due before shipping. https://ballardgrainandblade.com/#custom
Ready-Made items can be returned within 30 days if unused and in original condition. Made-to-Order and Custom pieces are non-refundable, since each is built specifically for you. Our full return policy can be found at https://ballardgrainandblade.com/refund_returns-2/
Get in touch
Questions? We'd love to hear from you.
Have a question about an order, need care guidance, or simply want to say hello? Send us a message using the "Send a message" form. Interested in a custom piece? Visit "Custom Work" in the menu above to submit a custom project request.