Letter From Our Founder

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

My name is Forrest Blackman, and I’m proud to be the founder and president of Natural State Craftsmen.

This land has shaped everything I value: hard work, honesty, family, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from building something solid and lasting. My wife and our two children are the heartbeat of my world. They’re the reason I come home every day with the same fire I had when I started this company. They remind me why a home matters so deeply. Home is not just walls and a roof, it’s the place where memories are made, where kids grow up laughing, where families gather, where life unfolds.

I started Natural State Craftsmen because I believe Arkansas deserves homes that honor that truth. Homes built with care, not corners cut. Homes that feel like they belong here. Homes that are warm, strong, and rooted in the beauty of our state. Whether it's a family in Hot Springs dreaming of a kitchen where everyone gathers, a couple in Little Rock wanting to age in place comfortably, or parents in Fayetteville hoping to give their children more room to grow, we serve this state with an unwavering passion for quality and family.

Our work is deeply personal to me. When we renovate a whole home, add a custom addition, craft built-in cabinetry by hand, or build an outdoor space where families can make memories under the evening sky, I think of my own family. I think of  my cooking dinner while the kids do homework at the island we designed. I think of our boys running through the backyard we helped create. Those moments are what drive us, not just to build well, but to build with heart.

We are committed to this community in every way we know how: showing up on time, being honest about costs and timelines, cleaning up every single day, and standing behind our work long after the final walkthrough. Arkansas has given me everything. Arkansas has given me my family, my livelihood, and my sense of purpose, and I am honored to give back by helping families across our beautiful state create homes they love.

If you’re considering a renovation, a custom build, or simply want to talk about what’s possible for your home, please reach out. My team and I would be privileged to serve you.

With gratitude and respect,

Forrest Blackman

Founder & President

Natural State Craftsmen