A snapshot of the history about Littlebranch Farm established in 2001 by Kelly and Cathy Maxwell. Let’s take a walk down memory lane. It all started in the early fall of 2000 when Cathy and her daughter asked if Kelly would build some rustic furniture for his stepdaughter’s wedding. The wedding went off as planned in March 2001. The exciting fact is Kelly has no training as a woodworker, let alone a rustic furniture maker.
About the Name Littlebranch Farm
Shortly after the wedding, Kelly was at work at Harris County EMS. Where his boss gave him an application for a craft show in Gay, Ga, he said fill this application out, write them a check for $25, and I’ll have a sausage biscuit and coffee for you each day. We showed up looking like the Beverly hillbillies with a little green beach tent, but we sold all but two pieces. So, the big question is, why the name Littlebranch Farm? Kelly grew up on his grandparents’ farm in Kuna, Idaho, where he learned the value of hard work and being a self-starter. Kelly always wanted to be a farmer growing up, but his grandfather discouraged him. In 1996 Kelly and Cathy purchased 16 acres on Littlebranch creek at the base of Ross mountain. He promptly named Littlebranch Farm, which became a rustic log furniture company.
Let the adventure begin!
As a full-time Paramedic, Kelly always looked for opportunities to supplement his income, and building log furniture had promise. After the first craft show, Kelly branched out doing other craft shows and consigning his log furniture in antique stores in Pine Mountain, Ga. The store would not let him display in the store but would give him space outside. Those were exciting years as he honed his skill as a self-made furniture maker.
Littlebranch Farm Rustic Furniture
In January 2003, Littlebranch Farm jumped feet first into the log furniture industry with its first log home show. Game-changer and Littlebranch Farm hit the ground running, doing three log home shows in 2003 and 2005 doing ten plus show around the United States. While log furniture drove the sales but Kelly’s live edge furniture designs grew in popularity. While the original littelebranchfarm.com fired up in 2001, significant changes happened in late 2005 as Kelly noticed the internet trend.
Littlebranch Farm Studio, Nashville, TN
In 2014 Littlebranch Farm made the big move to Nashville, TN. In 2008, Cathy, a lifelong nurse, began a Ph.D. program. Eventually result in employment as nursing faculty in Nashville, necessitating the need to move our company. In June 2014, we took a significant step by opening the Littlebranch gallery and studio at 901 2nd ave south in Nashville, Tennessee. With this opening, the original vision of a one-stop-shop for rustic home decor took root. The Gallery at Littlebranch Farm features handmade antler chandeliers and furniture, unique area rugs, hand-forged fireplace sets, and other rustic home decors. With this, a thriving online artist community that continues to grow.
From humble beginnings to the expansive workshop and gallery in the heart of Music City, Kelly has perfected his craft and become a sought-after rustic furniture maker around the world. In late 2019, Kelly branched out as a stand-alone artistic rustic furniture maker. He still designs and builds live edge furniture for Littlebranch Farm a
Kelly and Cathy Maxwell