After years of building a respected furniture practice in Los Angeles, Leigh and Cliff Spencer packed up their family, their tools, and their shop and headed east on Route 66 toward Birmingham. What began as a return to Cliff’s hometown became the beginning of Alabama Sawyer: a studio rooted in craftsmanship, stewardship, and the belief that meaningful work is worth building slowly.
Shortly after settling into MAKEbhm, Alabama Sawyer earned early momentum through Alabama Launchpad, receiving a $100,000 award from the EDPA. More than funding, it was affirmation that thoughtful design, hard work, and a new vision for urban timber had a place in Alabama’s future. And yes — holding the oversized check was pretty fun, too.
In 2017, Alabama Sawyer introduced the Legacy Table — a piece that would become foundational to the brand’s story. Sculpted in clay and first cast at Sloss Furnaces, the table represented a merging of industry, artistry, and Southern material history.
That same year, Alabama Sawyer was named both Furniture Category Winner and Overall Winner in Garden & Gun’s Made in the South Awards. Judged by acclaimed designer Bunny Williams, the recognition introduced the studio to a national audience and helped establish the Legacy Table as one of Alabama Sawyer’s signature pieces.
From the forests of North Alabama to the Gulf Coast shoreline, Alabama Sawyer has always believed the state’s landscapes deserve thoughtful stewardship and design.
Being selected to contribute furnishings for the Gulf State Park project was an opportunity to help shape one of Alabama’s most celebrated public spaces — a project grounded in sustainability, hospitality, and a deep appreciation for the natural environment.
When Chef Chris Hastings began the next chapter of Hot and Hot Fish Club, Alabama Sawyer was invited to contribute to the restaurant’s new space.
Using locally sourced hackberry for the bartops, the project embraced material character over convention — creating surfaces that feel lived in, warm, and unmistakably human. Like the restaurant itself, the work reflects a commitment to craft that endures.
After years at MAKEbhm, Alabama Sawyer moved into its longtime home on Vanderbilt Road.
The new space brought milling, drying, storage, fabrication, and design together under one roof — creating room not only for growth, but for bigger ideas, bigger projects, and a little more sawdust.
Housed in the former Premo automobile factory and shared alongside fellow makers and collaborators, the building reflects the kind of environment Alabama Sawyer values most: hardworking, imperfect, creative, and alive.
Inspired by long days outdoors and a renewed love for backpacking, Alabama Sawyer introduced the Amicalola Table.
Built around a sculptural pedestal base and informed by both cast metalwork and solid wood craftsmanship, the piece takes its name from Amicalola Falls — the gateway to the Appalachian Trail approach.
Like many Alabama Sawyer pieces, it exists somewhere between refinement and adventure.
The Winston Table emerged from experimentation — the kind that happens when curiosity leads the process.
Combining elements from earlier collections with bronze casting techniques explored at Sloss Furnaces, the table reflects Alabama Sawyer’s ongoing dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and evolving design practices.
Over the years, Alabama Sawyer’s work has expanded beyond furniture into immersive hospitality environments and collaborative interior experiences.
Projects like Luca Lagotto, Magnolia Point, and Valley Post allowed the studio to help shape spaces layered with warmth, texture, and character — from urban elm tables and custom banquettes to large-scale bars and material installations.
These collaborations reflect what Alabama Sawyer values most: creating spaces that feel collected, welcoming, and deeply connected to place.
Since 2018, Alabama Sawyer has partnered on a number of projects connected to the Equal Justice Initiative.
From custom fabrication to landscape furnishings, the work has been an opportunity to contribute to spaces dedicated to remembrance, education, and human dignity.
It remains some of the most meaningful work the studio has had the privilege to support.
