our process

Throughout the process of creating environmentally responsible furniture from locally salvaged hardwoods, our team responsibly gathers the materials, embraces a tree’s historical past, and finds joy in unearthing a tree’s hidden existence.  The process usually begins when we receive a call from a local home owner, land advocate or city official that needs to have a tree or group of trees removed.  Trees that are intentionally felled are already failing – most likely due to overgrowth or decay.  On-site, we stand and look upward, in awe of a tree’s mighty existence, marveling at what nature created.  From the moment we touch a tree the process of finding its second purpose begins to unfold. 

The tree’s “second life” begins with the first cut at the mill, where the full tree is cut into numerous slabs.  We carefully note the geographical origin and species on each slab, to track its provenance.  And then – we wait.  It takes incredible patience and discipline, as perfects stacks of raw slabs must age for several years in our 8,000 sq. foot “green room” before they can take the next step.  At last, the moment arrives: the moment when the tree is finally ready for its day in the sun.  This time, the sun will be shining through someone’s window, and the tree will have taken its place in someone’s home as a functional piece of art.   We design, plane, sand, and finish each piece with unparalleled personal care and quality — assuring you that the legacy of an Urban Hardwoods^® piece will be everlasting.