About Us — Jack Spearman Whitlatch LLC

Paducah, Kentucky

Built on a Handshake and a Hand Plane

"We don't build furniture to fill a room. We build furniture to become part of a family."

Jack Spearman Whitlatch LLC was founded in 2009 in a 1,200 square-foot garage in Paducah, Kentucky, by Jack Whitlatch — a third-generation woodworker who apprenticed under his grandfather at age nine. What started as a one-man custom order shop has grown into a 14-person studio with a 9,000 sq ft workshop, a design showroom, and a client list that spans 22 states.

We have never outsourced a single piece. Every joint, every finish, every stitch is done right here in Paducah, by the same artisans you meet on day one. That accountability isn't just a policy — it's the only way we know how to work.

Visit Our Studio

What We Believe

The Principles Behind Every Piece

I

Craft Over Convenience

We choose the right method, not the fast method. Mortise-and-tenon joinery over screws. Hand-planed surfaces over sanded. The difference is felt in every touch, every use, every year.

II

Honesty in Materials

Solid wood is solid wood — we never use veneers on structural components or misrepresent materials. What we say a piece is made of is exactly what it's made of.

III

Environmental Responsibility

Every board we use comes from FSC-certified forests or reclaimed sources. We use water-based finishes wherever possible and send zero waste to landfill through our mill partnership program.

IV

Client Partnership

You are not a customer number. You get the direct cell number of your lead craftsman. You're welcome in our shop at any stage of your build. This is a relationship, not a transaction.

V

Community Roots

Paducah is home. We hire locally, buy locally, and give back through the Kentucky Artisan Apprenticeship Program, which we help fund to bring the next generation of woodworkers into the craft.

VI

Standing Behind Our Work

We offer the longest structural warranty in the custom furniture industry: 25 years. If a joint fails, if a finish flakes, if anything goes wrong through normal use — we fix it. Full stop.

The People

Meet the Team

14 artisans, designers, and finishers — each with a decade or more of dedicated craft experience.

JW Master Craftsman

Jack Whitlatch

Founder & Master Craftsman

Third-generation woodworker with 30+ years of experience. Jack apprenticed under his grandfather and trained at the North Bennet Street School in Boston before returning to Kentucky to start the studio.

CS Head of Design

Clara Spearman

Head of Design

Interior designer with a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and 15 years of residential and commercial project experience. Clara leads all client consultations and design approvals.

MW Lead Upholsterer

Marcus Webb

Lead Upholsterer

Trained in traditional English upholstery at the London College of Furniture, Marcus joined the studio in 2012 and has since stitched, stuffed, and finished over 2,000 bespoke seating pieces.

DH Finishing Specialist

Diane Howell

Finishing Specialist

Diane manages all staining, sealing, and oil-finishing work. Her eye for color matching and grain enhancement is unmatched — clients often say the finish is what makes a piece truly extraordinary.

Our History

15 Years of Growth

From a single craftsman in a garage to a 14-person studio with national reach — these are the milestones that shaped who we are.

2009

The Garage Years

Jack Whitlatch opens a one-person custom shop in his Paducah garage. First commission: a dining table for a neighbor. Delivered three weeks late. It still stands today.

2012

First Studio Space

Moved into a 2,400 sq ft commercial workshop on Jefferson Street. Hired the first two full-time craftsmen. Annual revenue crossed $250,000 for the first time.

2015

The LLC & the Showroom

Formally incorporated as Jack Spearman Whitlatch LLC. Opened a 600 sq ft design showroom adjacent to the workshop. First project outside Kentucky: a Nashville penthouse.

2018

Commercial & Hospitality

Signed first hospitality contract: 8-room boutique inn in Oxford, MS. Expanded team to 10 craftsmen. Moved to current 9,000 sq ft facility on N 24th Street.

2021

National Recognition

Featured in Architectural Digest and Southern Living. Won the Kentucky Small Business of the Year award. Apprenticeship program launched in partnership with local high schools.

2024

Today

14 full-time artisans. Projects in 22 states. 800+ bespoke pieces delivered. Still family-owned, still made in Paducah, still built to last 100 years.

Recognition

Awards & Press

🏆

Kentucky Small Business of the Year

Kentucky SBDC · 2021

📰

Featured in Architectural Digest

"Best Bespoke Furniture Studios in the South" · 2021

🌿

Sustainable Furnishings Council Member

Gold-level commitment since 2016

⭐

Southern Living Home Award

Best Custom Furniture Maker · 2022

🎓

ASID Allied Member Studio

American Society of Interior Designers since 2015

🔨

Hardwood Artisans Guild

Master Craftsman certification · 2013

Our Story