Our Story

Our story began six generations ago with a vardo wagon maker, his son, a cooper, and grandson, a furniture maker who immigrated to northern Ohio from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He brought with him a commitment to family, a respect for nature, and a passion for woodworking.

For decades, we’ve continued those traditions here in beautiful Ohio amongst our rolling hillsides, Amish Country artisans, and grand acres of Appalachian hardwood forests. Through the years, many in our family have carried on in the family trade, creating carvings, sculptures, and boutique furniture.

Our pride and joy, both then and now, is our premium hardwoods, grown right here in the Midwest, where the winters are long and bitter, and the summers are short and intense. Some even say our weather is brutal, unbearably so. We say it’s what makes us. And what produces the most premium, slow-growth hardwoods you’ll find in North America.

Our Black Walnut, Oak, Cherry, Spalted Maple, Wormy Maple, Gray Elm, Ash, and Hickory hardwoods are designed by nature and perfected by our legendary climate. They’re so grand, in fact, that it hardly seems fair to keep them from the rest of the world.

So, we aren’t.

Here at GrandSlabs.com, we share this regional advantage with anyone who can appreciate the grandeur of old-growth Appalachian hardwoods, and the discerning eye it takes to select only the finest and most superior wood.

It’s not easy finding the grandest trees. It takes passion and persistence to discover the ideal slabs and lumber for heirloom-quality designs, furniture, and architectural features. So, we choose our trees carefully, ensuring a large and stable supply. And we accompany each and every order with exceptional, highly personalized service.

We’d love the challenge of finding the perfect fit for your project, no matter the size. And we appreciate the opportunity to curate your hardwood, steel, and concrete furniture needs.

So, go on. Dare us. We promise to deliver in nothing less than grand fashion.

Co-Founder & Son

The namesake of his great-grandfather, Rudy Keppler shares Rudolph’s penchant and passion for majestic hardwoods and fine craftsmanship. Representing the sixth-generation in woodworking, entrepreneurship is literally in his DNA. Perhaps that’s why Rudy’s role as president of Grand Slabs goes far behind managing the business. Instead, Rudy is on a mission to carry on the family legacy by reclaiming grand old hardwood trees and repurposing them into beautiful furnishings.

Co-Founder & Proud Dad

Fred Keppler is all about spending time with family and trekking through the woods on the family farm. He’s also the boots-on-the-ground senior advisor for Grand Slabs. Having spent 30 years in the aerospace industry, Fred is fearless in the face of complex design, bold deadlines, and mission-critical execution. 

Inspiration & Muse

Standing squarely in the center of a hillside hayfield on our family farm sits the largest, grandest old Oak tree human eyes may have ever seen. Her canopy is massive, perfected in shape and size over time and without competition from other trees.

She’s been the center of many family events, with children playing ’round her massive trunk, and hosting many a breezy afternoon of leisurely reading.

From our farmhouse kitchen window, she sits like a portrait, season after season, year after year. Absolute perfection.

Which is why we named her, Perfect Tree.

Perfect Tree is our muse and our inspiration. Most importantly, she is our standard for finding perfect hardwoods.

With homage to Perfect Tree, we honor grand, old-growth trees by sourcing only the very best, most high-quality trees; trees that have succumbed to time and Mother Nature.

And with the help of skilled American craftspeople, we uncover each tree’s well-storied life and reveal its next grand purpose: to be used and appreciated now and for generations to come.