Schlabaugh & Sons was started by two brothers who made cutting boards out of oak and served trays from leftover stair tread scraps from their father’s home construction business.

Brothers, John and Mark began working for their father, Emil in the home construction business. As they began to discover more of the tools used to build cabinets for custom homes, they each found ways to express themselves through the art of woodworking.

Thirty-two years later, their work has evolved and has most recently been sold in the Renwick Gallery and the National Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian, the Gamble House in Pasadena, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and numerous craft galleries across the country.

 Mark has designed work that is more contemporary in nature. His most recent works are a combination of exotic and domestic hardwood veneers that are formed to create a variety of functional items. The contemporary pieces are purchased by craft galleries and museum shops, as well as to individuals around the country.

 John enjoys designing work that is Arts & Crafts and Greene & Greene inspired. He is challenged by designing pieces that he can sell to stores & galleries that are known for top-quality workmanship while maintaining prices that make the work affordable.

Fun Fact: About the stair treads –  John & Mark’s father, Emil, got out of the home construction business and joined his sons in their woodworking company, appropriately named Schlabaugh & Sons Woodworking. Emil is now in his 80’s and still comes to the shop everyday, unless he’s golfing. His solid woodworking knowledge is the rock on which the business was founded. Neither brother has had formal training in woodworking.

Schlabaugh & Sons Woodworking is located in Kalona, Iowa.