The scent of sawdust hangs in the air—a warm, earthy reminder of the hands at work. Inside a quiet workshop tucked in the woods of Black, Missouri, thick slabs of walnut and hickory rest against the walls, each with their own stories waiting to be written. This is where craftsman Jake Nelson begins his process, one that’s equal parts patience, precision, and purpose.
This is where legacy begins. Not in grand gestures, but in the quiet beauty of something made well, made slowly, and made to last. At Legacy Sawyer + Craft, Jake isn’t just building furniture—he’s crafting heirlooms. His tables are a celebration of craftsmanship and an invitation to slow down and savor the moments that truly matter. And somewhere not far from here, one of his handcrafted tables is already part of someone’s story. A place where meals are shared, laughter lingers, and life unfolds—grain by grain, moment by moment.
Jake’s story begins in Yorkville, Illinois, where he was homeschooled and raised as one of seven children. With endless hours to explore, he gravitated toward the garage, where he turned scrap wood into treehouses and built Adirondack chairs to fill Craigslist orders. That early curiosity evolved into a full-fledged passion. His many years in the remodeling and custom cabinetry industry taught him the finer points of design and construction. Woodworking was more than a passion, it was a calling.
In 2022, Jake and his family relocated to Missouri in search of a quieter life, trading the noise of suburbia for wooded seclusion. That shift wasn’t just about geography—it was about intention. The move gave him space to pursue his dream full-time.
“Dining tables are where life happens,” he says. “The conversations, the laughter, the milestones—all of it happens around the table.”
For Jake, a table isn’t just a surface—it’s the heartbeat of a home. His clients are involved in every step of the fully customized process, where they get to choose everything from the wood species, size, edge style, and finish of their piece. Walnut and rustic hickory are two of his favorites for their warmth and character, but he also works with cherry, white oak, maple, alder, and many others. Occasionally, customers bring logs from their own property, which Jake transforms into deeply sentimental projects—turning raw timber into something meaningful and lasting.
His work stands apart from anything you’d find in a typical big-box store. Every board is kiln-dried and moisture-tested to ensure stability and longevity. The solvent-based varnish he uses is commercial-grade, protecting each table’s surface from wear, water, and time. His faux live edge design, a popular option, offers the beauty of a true live edge slab without the cost or limitations of finding something organic. And for a complete look, Jake partners with local furniture stores so families can execute the vision of their entire dining space cohesively.
With an average lead time of sixteen weeks, each build is carefully scheduled to ensure quality and attention to detail. Delivery is often handled personally. Jake makes sure every piece is safely delivered and set up with care; Because while every table begins in his workshop, it’s meant to end up somewhere far more important: in the heart of your home.
But no matter how the business grows or the projects evolve, Jake’s mission remains rooted in something simple and profound: building meaningful pieces that last. Every table begins with intention and ends as an heirloom. These are not quick purchases or box-assembled mass productions. They're crafted with care, and cultivated right here in Missouri. At Legacy Sawyer + Craft, your table is made with purpose, intended to be shared with those you love the most, and passed down for generations to come.
Jake Nelson handcrafts each Legacy Sawyer + Craft table from kiln-dried hardwood, shaping every detail with an artist’s eye and a craftsman’s precision. No veneers, no shortcuts—just timeless design and durable finishes made to endure. These tables aren’t just built to last, they’re made to hold the moments that matter most.