Today we’d like to introduce you to Raph Zelezniak.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It all started with a conversation between me and my wife about what I could do to start my own business. In fact, it was her idea. She always said I was a perfectionist, especially after I painted our entire house myself, so she suggested that I might be good at painting furniture.
So, I gave it a try.
I started painting a few pieces of furniture, and to my surprise, whatever I painted seemed to be gone within a few days. That was the moment I started thinking, “Maybe I can actually make something out of this.”
That’s how my wooden journey began.
Over the years, I started with furniture restoration and painting, and gradually taught myself everything I could about the craft — structural repairs, assessing wood damage, colour matching, refinishing and furniture conservation. It wasn’t an easy journey. There was a lot of learning, plenty of mistakes, and a lot of hard work, but eventually I could look back and say, I made it.
After spending years restoring and giving old furniture a new life, I decided I wanted to take things a step further and start designing and making my own furniture.
Today, plywood is my material of choice. I love it because it’s durable, versatile and a more sustainable choice. Every piece I make is carefully designed and handmade by me, with a focus on quality, detail and simplicity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, definitely not. It hasn’t been a smooth road, especially because I was learning everything by myself while also trying to build a business from scratch.
At the beginning, I had to learn through trial and error. Furniture restoration is not just about painting — there’s a lot more behind it. Understanding different types of wood, repairing structural damage, preparing surfaces properly, matching colours, refinishing and making sure the finished piece is actually built to last all took a lot of time and patience.
There were definitely moments when I questioned whether I was doing the right thing. Running a small business also comes with its own challenges — finding customers, managing costs, balancing the workload and constantly trying to improve.
But I think the hardest part was simply believing in myself when I was still learning and didn’t know where the journey would take me.
Looking back now, those struggles were actually a big part of the journey. Every mistake taught me something, every difficult piece made me better, and slowly I started to build confidence in my own work.
It was a long and sometimes difficult road, but I wouldn’t change it. I think the fact that I had to learn everything myself is also what makes MadeByRaphael what it is today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I do has changed quite a lot since I first started. I began with furniture restoration and painting, giving old or tired pieces a new lease of life. Over time, I taught myself how to do structural repairs, assess wood damage, match colours, refinish furniture and understand how to properly preserve older pieces.
These days, I also design and make my own furniture. I mainly work with plywood, which I really enjoy because it’s strong, versatile and has a very clean, contemporary look. I like taking a simple material and turning it into something that is both practical and beautiful.
I think I’m probably best known for the attention to detail in my work. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and sometimes that probably means I spend far too long on something that other people might not notice! But for me, those small details matter. I want every piece to feel properly finished, well made and something I would be happy to have in my own home.
What I’m most proud of is probably how far I’ve come. I didn’t start with a background in furniture making or restoration. I taught myself through years of experimenting, learning, making mistakes and improving. I started by painting furniture in my spare time, and it has grown into something where I’m now designing and making my own pieces.
I think what sets MadeByRaphael apart is that everything is very hands-on and personal. I’m involved in every stage, from the initial idea and design through to making, finishing and the final details. I’m not interested in mass-producing furniture. I want each piece to have that handmade feel and to be something that people can enjoy for years.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’d say persistence and being a perfectionist. I’ve always wanted to do things properly, and if I don’t know how to do something, I’ll keep learning until I get it right. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I’ve never been one to give up. I think that mindset has played a big part in getting MadeByRaphael to where it is today.
Pricing:
- Prices vary depending on the size, design, materials and amount of work involved.
- custom pieces are quoted individually based on the customer’s requirements
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madebyraphael/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Madebyraphael
- Other: https://madebyraphaeldesign.etsy.com
