Modern-day heirlooms in American black walnut — timeless mid-century lines, tailored to the way teams, clients, family, and guests gather. Four signature conference-table commissions each year, paced one per quarter.
Each commission is designed and built from scratch — no templates, no shortcuts. Below is a selection of completed works, shown from raw lumber to finished piece.
Sourced from premium American black walnut slabs, this 10-foot table was designed as the undeniable centerpiece of an executive office or a large dining space. Its sculptural wrought-iron trestle base keeps the profile open while the hand-oiled surface reveals the full depth of the grain. It seats 10–12 full-size adults comfortably in its installed configuration.
An heirloom-quality dining table shaped as a sweeping ellipse — a form that softens the room while commanding it. Walnut slabs were sourced by hand, biscuit-jointed for a seamless top, and finished over a solid walnut pedestal base. Built to be passed down.
A 24-foot L-shaped bar top milled from American black walnut live edge slabs — the natural bark edge preserved and finished to become the defining feature of the piece. Hand-sanded through progressive grits on-site and finished with a deep oil that brings out the full richness of the walnut grain. The result is a bar top that anchors the entire room.
"Better living through custom builds. Your space makes a difference."
Every build begins with a personal trip to select the lumber. Full slabs are chosen by hand — evaluating grain, figure, and character. No shortcuts, no compromises.
Slabs are milled flat, jointed, and allowed to acclimate in the shop. Precision at this stage determines the quality of every joint and surface that follows.
Each component is cut, shaped, and assembled by hand using professional-grade tools and time-tested joinery. No production shortcuts — every piece gets full attention.
Final surfaces are hand-sanded through progressive grits and finished with oil or lacquer to protect the wood and reveal its full depth. Delivered and installed personally.
Locust Hill Customs was founded in 2016 on a simple belief: the spaces where you work and live deserve furniture built with the same care and intention you bring to your craft.
Every piece is built by hand, start to finish, using the best available materials — primarily American black walnut sourced for grain, figure, and character. The design language is timeless mid-century: warm, architectural walnut; clean lines; and proportion that never asks for attention. Thoughtful grain selection, joinery, and base design let generous walnut spans carry their visual weight while the support stays quiet and purposeful. No production lines and no compromises. The work is paced around four signature conference-table commissions each year — one deliberate build cycle per quarter — so every project receives the full attention it deserves.
Based on Locust Hill Drive in Rochester, NY, Clifton serves clients throughout the greater Rochester area — Pittsford, Brighton, Fairport, Victor, Canandaigua, Penfield, Webster, and beyond — as well as Buffalo and Syracuse.
The result is furniture that doesn't just fill a room. It defines it.
The studio remains active between signature table builds. These personal projects are not a second collection to order from; they are working studies in proportion, joinery, hospitality, and the way a well-made object belongs in daily life.
01A 10-foot maple workbench, built from 32 individual boards and finished at 2.75 inches thick. It is the surface where layout, fit, edge work, and the repeated decisions behind every commission take shape.
02A small architectural study in hospitality: built-in shelving and a concealed bourbon closet that keeps the room composed until it is time to open it. Useful detail, quietly made at home in the room.
03A personal study in warm wood, quiet support, and everyday use. Pieces like this keep the design language honest between larger builds: considered at close range and made to live with.
The same attention carries forward when it is time to define a room.
Begin a Commission InquiryEvery commission begins with raw lumber and ends with a piece built to outlast generations. No shortcuts, no compromises — just the right tools, the right materials, and the time it takes to do it properly.
Download The Custom Table Brief — seven practical decisions to make before commissioning an heirloom executive or dining table.
Get the Complimentary GuideA table worth building a room around begins with the room. Share a few details about the space, its intended use, and the kind of piece you are considering before the important decisions become late-stage compromises.
Clifton reviews every inquiry personally and replies typically within 48 hours. The next step may be a Design Anchor Conversation, a material discussion, a request for room dimensions or photographs, or simply a practical fit check. No automated response and no pressure to commit before the conversation is useful.
Planning a renovation, new build, or lake home? See why a table can be worth building a room around.