Medicine to carpentry? A career change is a familiar concept to many people – whether that is stepping from one field into an adjacent profession or rebuilding a professional life from scratch, it is an experience shared by a large portion of our community. The time between fields can be spent in limbo – trying new hobbies and passion projects to see what would lend itself to new work. For Tessa Samuelson, the decision to leave medicine behind was an easy one, for just one reason: a desire to be self-employed.

Nearly a decade ago, while working in the medical field, Samuelson began creating homemade furniture in her garage. She developed these artistic pieces with tips from online videos and good old-fashioned trial-and-error until she found a system that worked best for her. Samuelson worked with her hands to come up with unique designs and sell her products online, laying the groundwork for what has become a successful small business. Sometimes, she says, she had to take a step backwards to move forwards, like moving into a smaller garage space after getting started. However the road moved, it has led to success in Madison: that small independent startup has blossomed into a brick and mortar retail space at Modern Oak – an outlet for those seeking a quality rustic look in their homes.

Of course, with furniture design, a key component is finding the right wood. Chopping down a tree in one’s backyard won’t always cut it – and when building new furniture, wood quality comes first. Samuelson says local mills and marketplaces are often ripe with options – and often lead her to other mills and marketplaces, and to others, and so on. This community has developed its own network to build itself up along the shoreline and around the region.

As the consumer walks through the always-growing stockpile of wooden creations at Modern Oak, Samuelson says they will notice a plethora of original designs with no piece identical to its neighbors. Coffee tables, dining tables, cabinetry, and bars are the big sellers, but there are many pieces large and small that pique customers’ interest. Cutting boards, for example, are among her most popular items around the holidays, as she says her distinctive designs make wonderful gifts.

At this point, with a prosperous small business she has built from the ground up, Samuelson says there is still only one way to go: bigger. She is interested in down the road finding a new location with a much larger footprint to fill with furniture, tripling her available space, hiring more employees, and expanding her collection. Samuelson sets herself apart from big retailers by doubling down on the distinctive nature of each piece. She says large furniture outlets mass-produce products, prioritizing uniformity and depth of stock. At Modern Oak – and with every piece Samuelson creates – it will be, like her business, one of a kind.