ABOUT BALLASH WOODWORKS

furniture Designed to withstand time.

Rooted in innovation & grit.

OUR HISTORY

Ballash Woodworks was born from three generations of Ballash woodworker skill and passion. As a young boy, Kurt remembers spending time in his grandfather’s woodshop and being amazed at the custom pieces he would build. After serving in the U.S. Army, he left the service to start a new chapter in life. Kurt began his first wood project in grade school and honed his craft after leaving the military. With this, Ballash Woodworks was born.

His shop is a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, and made-to-order workshop located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Each piece is made to order in alignment with the company’s traditional yet contemporary design approach and precise craftsmanship.

What makes Ballash Woodworks unique is the attention to detail and time placed into each piece. You will never receive the same piece as each is chiseled and molded to unique perfection.

design. build. elevate.

we are on a mission

Our mission is to deliver high-quality and premium custom and hand-crafted wood designs and furniture to those seeking to elevate their space. We do this with cutting-edge woodworking tools and technology, hand-selected premium woods, and by staying on top of industry standards. We value our customers and continue to evolve to customer needs and market trends. Our first priority is building lasting furniture to be passed down to the next generation.

we have a vision

Our vision is to share woodworking knowledge and skills with those wanting to learn the trade. We connect with organizations and colleges to ensure students have access to learn at our shop by utilizing our tools and resources. We host monthly workshops for our community to learn the process of woodworking. We also have a non-profit, The Artisan’s Outreach, that provides training to military seeking to learn artisan skills.

our values

EXCELLENCE

We provide the utmost quality in woods, designs, and craftsmanship. This extends to everything we build and in everything we do.

PASSION

We build and design each piece with purpose and passion. Our trade is rooted in a love for creating heirloom pieces to pass down for generations.

COMMUNITY

We work closely with our city and schools to give back to the community through workshops, training, and access to quality tools and resources.

CREATIVITY

We are continuously evolving and thinking of new designs and innovative ways to build furniture that goes beyond the status quo.

our commitments

SUPPORTING VETERANS & FAMILIES

We have a nonprofit, The Artisan’s Outreach, focused on providing training and mentorship to active duty soldiers, veterans, and their families to learn artisan skills and utilize creativity in finding their purpose.

CONNECTING TO THE COMMUNITY

We love connecting to those within our community, whether through our education-focused workshops, our nonprofit, local outreach, or encouraging others to grow and learn within an artisan craft.

TEACHING WOODWORKING SKILLS

Teaching is a cornerstone of our business, we dedicate monthly workshops, college student access, and open our shop up to those seeking to learn the art of the trade. Whether that is woodworking or leatherworking, we are a teaching shop and thrive on building up the next generation of craftsman.

PROMOTING VETERAN BUSINESSES

We support and help promote other veteran-owned businesses as we see it as a way of coming full circle. As a veteran-owned business, we want to uplift and encourage our brothers and sisters in arms. By purchasing, collaborating, promoting, or cheering on, we want them to know we have their backs.

WE LIKE OUR PEOPLE HOW WE LIKE OUR WOOD DESIGNS

BOLD, STURDY, AND ONE-OF-A-KIND

MEET THE

Ballash Woodworks Team

↓

KURT

owner. master wood craftsman. veteran. father. widower. non-profit owner.

KURT BALLASH

Woodworking is in the Ballash blood. As a child, Kurt spent afternoons in the shop where his father and grandfather crafted custom cabinets. Driving nails into scrap wood while watching them get lost in the art of their trade, Kurt developed an unspoken love for the process of turning lumber into one-of-a-kind creations.

Kurt first followed in the family's footsteps by serving his country. His grandfather served in the Navy during the Korean war; Kurt chose the Army. Just as his own service came to an end, Kurt's grandfather passed away and passed his tools down to Kurt. They provided a Zen-like calm that is not easily achieved after the deployments and rigor of military life. With every plane of a board or cut of a saw, Kurt's skills grew in tandem with his understanding of why his grandfather and father loved their work.

Kurt realized he was most at home in his garage, covered in sawdust and using his hands to do what God put him on the earth to do. His signature Live Edge pieces allow him to honor the symbiotic relationship between the woodworker and his subject, letting the unique aspects of each slab dictate the shape and form of a final piece. He also feels immensely blessed to help clients realize their vision for custom pieces. If you can imagine it, Kurt can build it. And in the tradition of the Ballash family trade, his daughter Kelsey will be at his feet, playing with scrap wood and watching her dad turn his passion into one-of-a-kind works of art.

erin

ERIN ZYNDA

Office Manager Extraordinaire. woodworker. mother. gym enthusiast. firecracker.

Erin is the boat that keeps this place afloat. She handles daily operations, project management, and customer relationships. When she isn't in the office running the show, she is building wood masterpieces alongside the crew. You should see her manhandle a miter saw! We value Erin's energy and her love for all things wood.

Background: Erin began her administrative journey as a paralegal and earned a degree in paralegal studies. She heard about Kurt’s story and the mission he had for his company. She knew she could be an asset to the growth and development of the company so took the leap and joined the Ballash Team. She loves being at the Ballash office and welcoming the customers and lining up projects.

Favorite Wood Projects: Live-edge tables, countertops, and butcher blocks.

connor

CONNOR GAEDE

shop manager.

Favorite Wood Projects: Live-edge tables, countertops, and butcher blocks.

Connor is the hands and feet of this place building most of the major projects,

Background: Tech Training/education: B.S. in Computer Information Science

What brought me to woodworking: Home improvement projects with my dad and inheriting some tools from my Great Grandfather

Favorite woodworking project: Brazilian rosewood mantle

In Loving Memory of Jamie smith

The dream of Ballash Woodworks was inspired by Kurt’s late wife, Jamie, who believed they were led to become a “hope for the community”. She inspired and encouraged him in every step. It was her loving nudges that gave him the courage and strength to launch Ballash Woodworks and soon after The Artisan’s Outreach. Her love and creative energy touched everything he built and will continue to be a part of everything he does. May her memory rest in peace and forever in the hearts of those who cherished and loved her.