Spotlight
Grit and Nails
Graham, North Carolina
Handcrafted wood furniture and handmade decor made locally.
“Grit & Nails handcrafts custom wood furniture, farmhouse tables, hardwood cutting boards, and rustic home decor in Graham, North Carolina.”
COMPANY Spotlight
Spotlight: Grit & Nails
Custom furniture and woodworking from Chris Deal in Graham, North Carolina. Phone, website, reviews, and social links at a glance.
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SPOTLIGHT STORY
Inside Grit & Nails
We met up with Chris Deal of Grit & Nails in Graham, North Carolina, right on the edge of the village of Saxapahaw. Chris builds custom furniture and woodworking pieces, and he’s the kind of maker you’ll find sanding, painting, and assembling something new every time you stop by.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
The Story: How a farmhouse-style coffee table kicked off the business
What They Make: Custom furniture, cabinetry, desks, dining tables, bars, cutting boards, and more
Why People Book Them: Custom dimensions, mix-and-match inspiration, and word-of-mouth trust
What To Expect: Easy ways to reach out (website, phone/text, Instagram/Facebook) + delivery or pickup
Where To Find Them: Based in Graham/Saxapahaw area. Reach out via text or phone
1. The Story
Grit & Nails started because Chris’s wife wanted farmhouse-style furniture for their home, but they didn’t want to pay “Pottery Barn pricing” for pieces that felt mass-produced. Chris built a coffee table as a first project (it’s still in their living room), and even now it’s the one piece his wife won’t let him sand down and refinish because it’s where it all began. Like a lot of woodworkers, the early days included working with whatever was available, even pallet wood, and over time it grew into a full custom woodworking business.
Chris shared that they’ve been at it for about 11 years, growing from small early projects into more finished, higher-end custom builds.
2. What They Make
Today, Grit & Nails takes on a wide range of custom work, from furniture and cabinetry to smaller giftable pieces. Chris said some of the biggest runs came during early COVID, when he built hundreds of desks for people working from home. They also do dining table sets, home bars, and a steady stream of cutting boards, cabinets, and seasonal/holiday decor.
And yes, customers sometimes request truly unique builds. Chris laughed about one commission for an indoor chicken coop (for four silky chickens kept inside someone’s home), and another for an iguana enclosure.
3. Why Locals Recommend Them
A big theme in Chris’s story is word of mouth. He said many customers come back after a first project, or someone sees a piece in a friend’s home and reaches out. One example: a client bought a single coffee table, then later ordered multiple pieces to furnish a new beach house.
People also come to Grit & Nails because custom solves real problems: you can combine inspiration (“I like this…and a bit of that…”) and build it to fit a specific space and exact dimensions you can’t get from a big-box catalog.
4. What To Expect
Chris described one of the biggest challenges as helping people understand the value of custom, handmade work in a world of instant gratification. He often gets compared to mass-produced options from places like IKEA, Walmart, Amazon, or Wayfair, but custom is different by design: you’re not buying something built 300-at-a-time, and you’re not limited to pre-set sizes.
If you’re thinking about ordering, the process is straightforward: start a conversation, share what you’re looking for (photos help), and Chris will guide you toward a build that fits your space.
5. Where To Find Them
The easiest way to reach Grit & Nails is online. Chris said you can message through the website at gritandnails.com, call or text the phone number listed there, or send a message through Instagram or Facebook. He prefers people connect first rather than showing up unannounced, unless it’s someone local who already knows the shop.
Delivery and pickup are both options. Chris said they’ve delivered across North Carolina and beyond, including trips toward South Carolina, Asheville, Wilmington, and even into Virginia depending on the project.
Ready to connect? Use the links above to visit the website or message Chris directly, and take a look at what Grit & Nails can build for your home.
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