The Story of Michal Čiliak – Wood Design

Luxury handmade wooden pens and designer serving boards made from solid wood by Michal Čiliak – Wood Design did not begin as a business plan. They were born from a desire to create real, honest and beautiful things by hand.

Even though I had a well-paid corporate job, I missed the connection with materials, the creative process and the satisfaction of making something with real value. I returned to working with wood – a material that had fascinated me since childhood and which remains the heart of my work today.

Thanks to this journey, my workshop now produces luxury writing instruments made from natural wood as well as unique serving boards made from solid wood and resin, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern design.

Do something you truly enjoy – and do it with your heart…

I started by making solid wood design tables, lamps and other wooden products. I never wanted to buy ready-made timber – I wanted to know the origin of every piece of wood I worked with.

I personally sourced Czech wood species, transported them to the sawmill and prepared the material from the tree trunk all the way to the finished product. I owe many of my most interesting pieces of wood to friends who work professionally with tree cutting and forestry.

Thanks to them, I know where to find old fruit trees, walnut trees and other unique woods that I give a second life to in the form of handcrafted wooden pens and serving boards from my workshop.

I enjoy challenges and rarely choose the easiest path…

Before the first handmade wooden pens were created – the ones I was truly proud of – many unsuccessful pieces passed through my hands. I deliberately select the most interesting parts of the wood, with strong grain patterns, knots and unique structures that give each piece its character.

However, these parts are also the most demanding to work with and often tend to crack. I had to learn how to properly dry freshly cut wood, how to stabilize it and how to choose the right surface finish so the pen can withstand everyday use while preserving the natural feel of wood.

Today I use these experiences when crafting every product – whether it is a luxury wooden pen or a solid wood serving board.

Handcrafted production in my workshop

Today my workshop produces not only luxury handmade wooden pens but also designer serving boards made from solid wood and resin. Each piece is crafted from carefully selected materials – whether European or exotic wood species.

Every product is a unique original with its own story. Thanks to the natural grain of the wood, the structure of the material and the handmade process, no two pieces are ever the same.

Products from Michal Čiliak – Wood Design are now shipped to customers across Europe as handcrafted items that combine traditional craftsmanship, natural materials and modern design.

Czech craftsmanship, design and respect for natural materials

The brand Michal Čiliak – Wood Design represents traditional craftsmanship, thoughtful design and honest work with wood. I do not produce in mass quantities – every piece is the result of hours of manual work, experience and respect for natural materials.

This story is still being written. Which handmade wooden pen or solid wood serving board will you choose from it?

Michal Čiliak – Wood Design