Butcher Block Furniture was started in 1980 with the founding principles that quality custom furniture should be well crafted and built to last. We specialize in countertops, utility tables for kitchen workspaces, and furniture for all the rooms of your home. Keeping your timeline and budget in mind, we collaborate with you to choose the perfect wood species, finish, and dimensions. Ensuring we build pieces just the right size with just the right functional details for your home or space. We work with builders, designers, architects and we also work directly with homeowners.  We have a passion for making high quality products that will last in your home for generations.

Kate Schiffler graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Art and Archeology and studied overseas for a time. After she returned, in 2004 she discovered her love of woodworking after purchasing and running a small stained glass framing company that specialized in hardwood frames and displays. Over the last 20 years Kate has been expanding her knowledge of woodworking and learning new skills from talented craftspeople. She eventually started building everything from wooden toys, kitchen wares, functional art, to instruments, and then onto furniture. Kate took over Butcher Block Furniture from original founder Steve Hampton in 2021 when he made the decision to retire.

Kate has a background in classic art forms and craft work, starting at a young age starting with her grandmother. Keeping creative is her main goal in life, and she is always learning new techniques and skills. She teaches woodworking classes to all ages at her shop in Saint Paul as well at various other locations through the year including Fireweed Community Woodshop and the Avon Hills Folk School. It is important to her to continue learning from other craftspeople in woodworking community as well as in other hand craft disciplines.