By Robin Milligan
Christopher Stanke, known to friends as Christo, said he has always had a deep connection to woodworking. “I like to say that I have three loves: music, woodworking, and traveling,” he shared. Although, since finding himself here in the northwest, he hasn’t been traveling. “My passport has expired and I don’t care. This is home,” he said.
Christo’s love of woodworking began in childhood; his father was a home builder, and they built everything together. Christo was afraid of heights, so he was told to manage the woodshop. He said he became addicted to woodworking. “I loved the tools, and the smells, really everything about the shop,” he recalled. As he grew up, his passion and dedication to his craft continued to grow.
In 2015, he had a cabinet and woodworking shop in northern Israel near the Sea of Galilee. “My partner got a call, and I could tell something was wrong. I got a call as well. My shop was on fire,” he remembered. The building had been firebombed. “I was devastated. All of my work and materials were gone. I could have just given up and decided it was all over, but this is what I love to do,” Christo said.
During the next three years, he rebuilt his business, this time near Tel Aviv. He remembers working tirelessly, day and night, to restore what he had lost, only to lose something far more precious. “I thought everything was going well, then my wife passed away. She was beautiful, young, and healthy,” he reflected. His words lingered for a moment before he continued.
Not knowing what they were going to do next, he and his two children got their passports and left everything behind. Christo, who had been born in the United States but lived in Israel for 13 years, set out with his children to experience the world.
They took their time exploring many places and cultures. “We flew into Copenhagen and started touring Europe. I told my kids, when we find a place that feels like home, just say when, and we’ll be there,” he explained. “We traveled all over Europe, and it wasn’t for us. We then flew into L.A. and toured the southern U.S., up the East Coast, and took our time getting to see as much as we could as we went,” he said.
“When we drove through Colville, we all thought it was a cute place, like so many other cute places we had been to. Then we were driving down Highway 25 where the two rivers meet, and the way the sun was setting over Lake Roosevelt was magical. There is just something about this place. My kids were in the back seat of the car and said, ‘Dad, what about here?’ Out of everywhere we had been, all three of us knew. Within three days, I bought an RV and started looking for property,” he recalled. He found a place in Rice that he really liked, and they moved off-grid.
Old Kettle Road Woodworking
Christo looked for a place to set up a woodworking shop because it is what he loves, but realized that, as a single dad, he needed to be realistic about what they needed and what he could accomplish. He ended up working for the lumber company and hardware store, Haney Lumber in Colville, for several years. He said it was “woodworking adjacent.” He built the front counters for the store and updated the offices. “I love to help people,” he said. “Customer service was great. I love talking to people. However, I really wanted to get back to my passion.”
He continued, “My kids inspire me. They are the coolest kids you’ll ever meet. We’ve been through rough things together. They have seen the world, they are funny, philosophical, and they inspire me. To have the strength to do everything we’ve done, I just look at them, and I have all the reasons I could need,” he reflected. Raising his kids and building their home was the most important work for Christo, but now he is getting to dive back into one of his three loves full time and is so excited to share his passion with the community.
“You won’t be disappointed in my work. I’m probably going to surprise you. And I’ll walk you through it, so there is no reason to be scared. We’ll find a way to get it done right.” he beamed.
Christo bought a beautiful cabinet shop in July of this year. He said it is about 4,000 square feet and has plenty of space to create. Christo is making cabinets, and so much more, under the business name Old Kettle Road Woodworking.
He works in many styles, from modern to rustic to European. “I want to get as excited about it as you are,” he said. His work includes countertops of all kinds, butcher blocks, and accent walls, as well as cabinetry.
“It’s expensive getting a custom kitchen built. Not everyone can afford that. I can take your kitchen and reface it, refinish it, update the hardware, and revive your kitchen,” he said. “I also love doing furniture restoration, bringing something old and loved back to life. This work is time consuming, but it’s worth the cost to restore history,” he added.
His projects span residential and commercial work, from restaurants and offices, to boutique hotels and high-end interiors. He notes that his quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service make Old Kettle Road Woodworking really stand out.
“My favorite part of what I do is taking an idea and making it reality,” he said. “I love creating. I really love that I can change someone’s world by putting something in it to make it better. You have all these raw materials and a design, and you make it into something different.” Christo said he also creates outdoor living spaces, turning outdoor areas into comfortable living space that extends a home into the yard.
“The Northwest is peaceful. It’s also diverse, colorful, open, and inviting. The sailing is really fun here, and it’s just a beautiful place to be,” he said. “I really love it here.”
According to Christo, Kettle Falls and the community his business serves have welcomed him and his craftsmanship with gladness. “What a splash! I wasn’t expecting the amount of buzz this would create. I’m being pushed in the direction of my dreams. The feedback has been out of this world. There is no reason for me to go beyond this area. The people here are great, really good people. From the moment we came here, people have let us feel like this is home,” he said.
Christo doesn’t see himself as just a business owner. He is an optimist and someone who has dared to continue to dream after many obstacles. His positivity is contagious and powerful. Christo wants to be part of the community he serves. He wants people to come in, check it out, and dream with him. “I have the experience, but also the energy to start from scratch again. Tragedy happens to everyone. You have to go through the darkness to get into the light. I believe I am truly blessed, and I am confident that the future is going to be great,” he said.
Old Kettle Road Woodworking
1160 W. Old Kettle Rd.
Kettle Falls, WA 99141
Open 8am-6pm Monday – Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday
509-419-1286
[email protected]
Robin Milligan is an artist and entrepreneur living in Spokane. She runs a tech company, curates art shows, and teaches ceramics and painting from her home studio. When not working, Robin spends her time with her 3 children exploring nature, rockhounding, making art, and swimming.