Piet Houtenbos

ORIGINS

We primarily create furniture from a variety of species grown natively in North America. This includes wood from black walnut, sycamore, maple, white oak, myrtle, cherry and white ash trees. On occasion we will indulge in some lesser known woods from around the world to make furniture with unique woodgrain and hues that are not found in our climate.

The majority of our wood comes from small family owned businesses that acquire their logs at auctions held around their region. These trees have for the most part fallen or been taken down for reasons related to the surrounding communities. Severe weather, city infrastructure, land development, and old age contribute to the removal of these large stately trees.

After a tree is recovered the large trunks are sliced into slabs, stacked and then air dried in a barn for up to 3 years removing about 85% of its moisture content. The slabs then head to room size kilns where they will be dehumidified for another month. Slowly the slabs reach a moisture content of 4-7% making them dry and stable enough to build lasting furniture.

SUSTAINABILITY

We are committed to using locally sourced naturally grown trees that are not harvested from commercial logging companies. This comes at a cost but we know we are not contributing to the declining forest land. Old salvaged tree trunks often have the benefit of time - allowing their grain structure to develop while growing to their mature size. A slow process that creates beautiful patterns within the trees heartwood. This allows us to create character rich furniture while treading softly on our landscape.

Since the wood we find has such terrific character and richness we generally choose not to add stains or color altering chemicals to our woods. Instead we finish our furniture with natural hand rubbed oil which lends a satisfying lustre and adds depth to the wood.

In a simpler sense - we create durable furniture made from natural materials and finishes that can be handed down for generations. We believe this is the single best way to keep our contributions in peoples hearts and out of landfills.

DESIGN

We believe in the power of subtlety. While we work to continually expand the vocabulary of furniture design, the end result should always be easy on the eyes. We pride ourselves on designing simple beautiful pieces that will remain relevant and a joy to live with for generations

Most projects will start with some simple sketching around a clients needs. Once we find a path the idea will be 3D modeled with software that allows for the meticulous tinkering of details and proportion. This is the moment we can try out all the 'what ifs' and see how those ideas affect other parts of the design. It's a painstaking process of back an forth that's essential to great design and something that we believe separates us from many other furniture companies.

When making furniture one piece at a time we are free to dive into difficult details and accomplish more with a demanding wood species. Because we make these pieces by hand we can spend time perfecting a tolerance and finish that's outside the abilities of large production furniture factories.

In the end our aim is to find beautiful solutions that support the functional goals of each piece. Something warm and unique that speaks proudly but lives gently in its surroundings.

CRAFT

While our designs aim to explore new vocabularies, our fabrication techniques are largely rooted in the old traditions of woodworking. Typically our wood comes direct from the source - bark and all. Over the course of several weeks the wood is gently milled from rough slabs to silky smooth, shaped furniture elements. Joinery is all done within the solid wood using various techniques and guided by the aesthetic and functional demands of each design.

Since we build each piece by hand, we have the opportunity to source specific boards for each project. All wood, even boards from the same tree can vary in color and grain structure so it's critical to compose these boards throughout the process of making a furniture piece. These varying characteristics bring out the beauty and character of solid wood and when curated properly have a large part in making something spectacular.

In addition, great care must be made to design furniture that breathes. Unlike most production furniture made from laminated materials, solid wood will always move with varying humidities and temperatures throughout the seasons. A dining table can swell half an inch or more in the summer then shrink back down in winter months. We incorporate this factor seamlessly into all our work, in truth - it may be the single most important factor in making lasting solid wood furniture.