Our Story

The Boardsmith was founded in High Point, North Carolina in 2005 with the goal of making the highest quality butcher block on the market. Over the years, the business has grown from a one man operation in a garage to our current team of 8 full time employees in a 7,500 square foot shop in Frisco, Texas. We are extremely proud of the reputation we’ve built, and are so thankful that people all over the world are using and appreciating something we’ve made by hand in our little shop. 

John Loftis is the owner of the Boardsmith. He first gained an interest in woodworking in his high school shop class in the 1980’s. While in the corporate world, he enjoyed woodworking as a passionate hobby before finally taking the plunge to pursue custom woodworking and butcher block full time. He’s made thousands of boards over the years and continues to do so, though these days he probably spends more time mentoring the next generation and answering customer emails. A true ‘Mom and Pop’ operation, John is married to Jennie–the Accounting Department/CFO/Boss. All three kids also participate in the business, frequently helping their mom and dad ship orders and help out in the shop.

Our Mission 

Our mission at the Boardsmith is to make the finest butcher block in the world. We do that by constantly asking, “Is there anything we can do to make a better product than we are right now?” If the answer is yes, then we’re not afraid to change course, adjusting our process or materials. If the answer is no, then we lean into what we’re doing with all we’ve got.

Our Process 

With butcher block, you really do ‘get what you pay for,’ and we’d like to share with you what makes our butcher block exceptional.

It all starts with the wood

We spend a jaw-dropping amount of money on top-quality hardwoods. To make a beautiful, lasting butcher’s block, we use only the highest grade (FAS) hardwoods, sourced from sawmills that use sustainable forestry practices (FSC). We only use the three best species for butcher blocks: Hard Maple, Black Cherry, and Black Walnut. The quality of the hardwoods we use costs us twice as much as the cheaper stuff costs the other guys, but the results speak for themselves.

Uncompromising craftsmanship

Crafting butcher blocks is an exercise in precision. Tools must be dialed in carefully and techniques must be honed over decades to ensure that the butcher’s block is built to last. Unlike the big, nameless factories that churn out thousands of ‘units’ per day, we are a small shop and make each butcher block by hand, paying careful attention to details like wood grain direction and seamless joinery. We have also invested in high-end industrial tools such as Felder and Festool to help give you the best quality product. Being a small cutting board company also means that we can easily customize, catering to your specifications and desires. Want something unique? Just ask us!

The little things that make a big difference

We only use Titebond III glue, which is EPA-approved as food-safe and waterproof. We hand chamfer each butcher’s block and handcraft matching wood ‘escutcheons’ that our silicone feet nest into. We dip each board into pharmacy-grade, food-safe mineral oil to give it water resistance and we hand buff each board with beeswax to give it luster and additional protection. We use a unique ‘Carolina slab’ pattern of wide sections of hardwood to minimize the number of glue joints and to stagger the glue lines. We don’t skip the details, because they really help make our products exceptional pieces of functional art.

In short, a Boardsmith board is built to be beautiful, and built to last. If your kids are arguing over who gets to keep it when you’re gone, then we’ve done our job. 

Kind Words

My board is a functional work of art. It's beautifully made. I have it where I can see it everyday. It gets used a couple times a week, and I look forward to that. Highly recommend.

 – Brad, April 4, 2024

It's so nice that at first I didn't even want to use it -- just wanted to stare at it like a piece of art. But I got over that, and now I use it all the time for (almost) everything, and it's just what I needed. (And it's still beautiful too.) Highly recommended.

 – Scott, May 29, 2024

Wow! This is an awesome cutting board! I hope to pass it on to my son who loves to cook, once I get too lazy to do scratch cooking. I wish I had purchased this 40 years ago!

 – Sheila, January 1, 2024

I have used it everyday since it arrived, and with a little maintenance and love, it still looks as magnificent as the day it arrived in the mail. I believe it is one of the most important kitchen investments I have made to date and would love to invest in a side-kick board to add to my cutting board collection in the future. You won’t regret choosing Boardsmith!

 – Justin, December 28, 2023

This is a perfect addition to my kitchen. The walnut wood is beautiful - rich, varied, and with a depth of color. The size is substantial without being too heavy to move. I have a large kitchen so I can leave it on the counter and it looks great - it is a finishing touch that is useful and gorgeous. I’m so happy to have this piece. Thank you to the craftsmen that made it!

 – Susan, February 27, 2024 

Press Mentions

We've been fortunate enough to be highlighted in a variety of publications! View our Press page here