River North Trestle Table
A custom walnut trestle table with a bookmatched crotch figure top and wedged through mortise and tenon joinery. Drawn from the Nakashima tradition. Built to the exact dimensions of your room.
Built in Chicago
Lifetime warranty
Final approval before delivery
Nationwide white-glove installation
The Piece
The River North Trestle Table began as a commission from an architect designing a formal dining room in Chicago. A table that could anchor a serious room without overwhelming it, built with joinery that rewards a second look. You will use this table more than almost anything else you own. That is reason enough to get it right.
The Wood
The top is bookmatched crotch figure walnut, two sequenced boards opened like pages from the same chapter. A small ribbon of sapwood runs along one edge, left intentionally. The wood knows where it came from. Crotch figure walnut is among the most sought after lumber in American furniture making. The movement in the grain is not a defect or anomaly. It is what the tree was doing at the moment it divided, preserved and opened flat.
The Form
The top is boat shaped, narrowing gently toward each end. At ten feet six inches, the form keeps the piece from reading as simply large. The narrowing also changes how the table reads from the head. Seated at either end, you see a piece with genuine taper and movement, not a rectangle.
The Joinery
The trestle base is joined with wedged through mortise and tenon joinery. The tenon passes through the leg and is locked with a wedge driven home, a mechanically locked joint that needs no hardware. The joinery is visible. It is part of what the table is.
The Construction
The top is solid black walnut, one and three quarter inches thick. Beneath the surface it is reinforced with steel C channels, and it is fixed to the base with slotted steel connectors seated into stainless steel inserts set into the underside. Those slots are what let a solid top of this width expand and contract across the seasons without stressing the wood or the joinery. The top lifts off for delivery while the trestle base ships as a single piece, so a ten and a half foot table can be carried into the room and set back together on site with the visible joinery untouched.
The Finish
Every River North Trestle Table is built to order in our Chicago workshop. Every commission begins with a conversation about the room it will live in. Two finishes are available because two different relationships with wood are valid. The 2K polyurethane spray finish provides maximum surface protection with a smooth, durable film. The hand rubbed oil finish using Odie's Universal Oil penetrates the wood rather than sitting on top of it, giving the surface a warmth and responsiveness that changes how the piece feels to the touch. We recommend the finish based on how the table will be used, the daily wear it will see, and the relationship you want with the walnut over time.
Meet the designer and builder
Jerry Rodman
Jerry Rodman founded Statement Chicago and designs every piece we make. He left a corporate career to build furniture, and for years he built each commission himself. Today Jerry and his team of four build every piece by hand in our Chicago workshop, and he leads each project from the first conversation to the day it is delivered.
More about Jerry
Jerry started the business eleven years ago in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, first as Bucktown Built and now as Statement Chicago. The shop is known for large dining tables and complex custom furniture.
Every commission begins with how you live and the room the piece will live in. Jerry presents three design options, refines the one you choose, and stays involved through delivery.
WGN featured his Ancient Kauri Dining Table, a ten foot table made from New Zealand kauri that was growing about two thousand years ago.
Built Around You
Every River North Trestle Table is built to order. The piece shown is one interpretation. Yours can be different in any number of ways.
Top Profile
The piece shown has a boat shaped top. The same table is available with square corners for a cleaner architectural profile, or radiused corners for a softer edge, well suited to families.
Top Composition
Bookmatched as shown. Also available as a single board top for a quieter, more uniform grain.
Size
The piece shown is ten feet six inches long and seats ten comfortably. We build this table starting at eight seats and scale from there. Custom lengths and widths are available.
Species
Black walnut as shown, sourced from local Illinois sawmills. Also available in white oak and other species on request. We source specifically for what each client loves.
Finish
2K polyurethane spray finish applied in our commercial spray booth, or hand rubbed oil finish using Odie's Universal Oil. We recommend the finish based on how the table will be used, the daily wear expected, and the relationship you want with the walnut over time.
Available In
Client Experience
“I can’t say enough about the quality, craftsmanship, and creativity that he puts behind all his pieces. They are in a class of their own.”
Custom furniture client, Chicago
Before you order
What is the starting price for the River North Trestle Table?
The River North Trestle Table starts at $8,500. The final price depends on the size, species, top configuration, and finish you choose. Every table is built to order and priced based on your specific commission. Contact us to discuss your project and receive a detailed quote.
How long does it take to build a custom walnut trestle dining table?
Lead time for the River North Trestle Table is 10 to 12 weeks from the time your commission is confirmed and deposit is received. This includes time for material sourcing, drying, milling, joinery, finishing, and quality review before the piece leaves our Chicago workshop.
Is the River North Trestle Table solid wood?
Yes. The top is solid bookmatched black walnut, one and three quarter inches thick, and the trestle base is solid walnut joined with the wedged through mortise and tenon you can see. There is no veneer. Beneath the top, steel C channels and slotted steel connectors reinforce the slab and let it move with the seasons. The metal is hidden and structural; the wood you see and touch is solid throughout.
How is the top attached, and does the table come apart for delivery?
The top is fixed to the base with slotted steel connectors seated into stainless steel inserts set into its underside, which hold it firmly while allowing the solid wood to expand and contract seasonally. The top lifts off for delivery. The trestle base is a single piece. On site the two come back together with the visible wedged joinery exactly as it was.
What wood species is the River North Trestle Table available in?
The piece shown is built in black walnut sourced from local Illinois sawmills. The same table is available in white oak and other species on request. We source specifically for what each client loves, whether that is straight grain for a quieter surface or figured grain for maximum visual impact.
What is bookmatched walnut and why does it matter?
Bookmatching means two sequenced boards are opened like pages of a book so their grain mirrors each other across the centerline of the tabletop. The result is a symmetrical, dramatic grain pattern that is unique to each piece. The River North Trestle Table shown uses bookmatched crotch figure walnut, which produces some of the most highly figured and sought-after grain in fine furniture making.
What is wedged through mortise and tenon joinery?
Wedged through mortise and tenon is one of the oldest and strongest ways to join wood to wood. The tenon passes entirely through the leg and is locked in place with a wedge driven into its end, creating a mechanically locked joint that stays secure through years of use. It requires no hardware, and the structure is expressed through the joinery itself. On the River North Trestle Table the joinery is visible and intentional. It is part of what the table is.
Can the River North Trestle Table be made in a custom size?
Yes. We build this table starting at a configuration that seats eight comfortably and scale from there to accommodate larger dining rooms and conference spaces. Custom lengths, widths, and heights are all available. Every River North Trestle Table is built to the exact dimensions of your room and your life.
What finish options are available?
The River North Trestle Table is available in two finishes. The 2K polyurethane spray finish is applied in our commercial spray booth and provides a hard, durable surface that requires minimal maintenance, well suited to heavy daily use. The hand rubbed oil finish using Odie's Universal Oil penetrates the wood rather than sitting on top of it, giving you a surface that feels alive under your hands and deepens with age. We recommend the finish based on how the table will be used, the daily wear it will see, and the relationship you want with the walnut over time, and we are happy to talk it through.
Can I visit the workshop to see the table being built?
Yes. We welcome clients to our Chicago workshop by appointment. There is no better way to understand the craft behind your piece than to see it in progress. Contact us to arrange a visit.
What is the difference between a boat shaped top and square corners?
The boat shaped top narrows gently toward each end, softening the length of a ten foot table and making the piece feel considered rather than simply large. Square corners give a cleaner, more architectural profile that works particularly well in contemporary or minimalist interiors. Radiused corners offer a softer edge that is more suited to family use. The top profile is one of the first decisions we make together when beginning your commission.
Who builds the River North Trestle Table?
Every piece that leaves Statement Chicago is built by Jerry Rodman, a furniture maker who has been in business for 11 years, and his team of four carpenters in our workshop on Chicago's north side. There is no production line and no outsourcing. When you commission a table, you work directly with the people who build it, from the first conversation to the day it arrives in your home.
Delivery
Every piece is built to order in our Chicago workshop, and delivery is coordinated directly with you once it is finished. We build and ship nationwide. Our white glove delivery partners review the access path, handle any assembly and set the piece in place in your home.
Care
Care depends on the finish. A 2K polyurethane finish needs little more than a soft, damp cloth; avoid harsh chemical cleaners. A hand rubbed oil finish benefits from a light coat of Odie's Universal Oil once a year, or whenever the surface looks dry. With either finish, use trivets under hot dishes, wipe up standing water and keep the piece out of prolonged direct sunlight.
Lifetime warranty
Every piece is covered against manufacturing defects for the life of the piece. We stand behind what we build.
Order yours
Tell us about your room.
Share the size you need, the wood you love, and how you will use the piece. We will size and quote it for your space and guide every step from there.