Live Edge Slabs Available for Tables
Let’s start the conversation here. We can talk about the base after…
Live edge walnut bookmatch with some amazing figure and color. Some cracks and voids need to be addressed with epoxy or wood patch work. This set is about 99” long x 68” wide and 2.5” thick (We can trim these down to make a top that is functional south of 4’ wide).
A live edge black walnut set from Easthampton MA. This set will finish at about 9’ long x 40” wide. These will be headed for surfacing soon. They are very clean and free of defects.
Single slab butternut that is 8’ long x 36” wide. This piece was finished to show the color and figure but can still be trimmed down to size to fit your space.
9’ Long x 44” wide this is going to make a good looking match. Sugar Maple is a beautiful wood to works with. This particular set has a strong white sapline that runs along the outer edge. This was caused by a void on the top of the tree that water had been trickling into over the years.
Handcrafted Stools in Walnut
We make these stools from 100% Black Walnut and use the very best selection to ensure you have this stool for generations. These are not available on Wayfair or Amazon. They are made for you with thought and care. Any purchases before 04/30/2019 will ship free of charge (curbside) anywhere in the lower 48 (minimum order of 2) .
Classic Walnut Stools for the kitchen
This three legged walnut stool has been with us since the beginning. Its sturdy, comfortable, and great looking. Made from Walnut using traditional mortise and tenon construction. The scooped seat is 16” wide x 10” deep.
Made to order. Please allow 6-8 weeks to complete.
Modern Round Walnut Stools
The Merrick stool was built for family. Each rung on the stool is a different height. Pick the height you like, and take a load off. The round walnut stool seat is scooped to provide additional comfort for those long morning coffee breaks or late night wine downs. Made from 100% locally harvested walnut.
Made to order. Please allow 6-8 weeks for completion. This stool is handmade in Wilbraham MA.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact the shop:
Live Edge Walnut Conference Table
Bring a little nature into your work for more balance. This particular piece was made from 1 single tree. It consists of (4) 10’ sequentially sawn live edge walnut slabs. The idea behind this end for end bookmatch was to allow the ends to grain match so they looked seamless when put together. The build on this table was complicated and challenging. But, thats what a conference room is for right? Overcoming obstacles and finding a way to make something incredible!
Custom barn in Westport, MA
We built some unique furniture and custom kitchen for this one of a kind Barn
Location : Westport, MA
Date: Winter of 2018
Last year we had the opportunity to work on conceptualizing this project with our client. They wanted a summer retreat that felt like it was built with the original barn. We kept that in mind while designing the furniture for this custom barn.
The scope of work:
Two live edge queen sized cherry beds with full trundles stored underneath
Custom cherry kitchen with beaded doors and drawers
36” High cherry kitchen table with reclaimed base made from a beam of the barn
4 round cherry counter height round stools with 3 legs
Built in cherry refrigerator cabinet
Custom cherry shuffleboard table with cast iron base
The Wood:
While we were designing this barn on site with the client we were taking in the surroundings. Studying the beams, floor board, paneling etc… We wanted to take a mental image of all other materials in play. We then paired this space with the correct lot of trees that we could or have milled to match our ideal finished look. We decided to use this cherry that we milled from Russell MA. It has some insect damage which we could fill with epoxy. We think this tied into the reclaimed feeling of the barn while still feeling luxe but not out of place. This is why our sawmill and kiln are so important to our design when it comes to customizing your space. It takes the blinders off, and allows us to truly design with your space in mind.
The Design-Build Process:
Once we identify the wood we are going to use, we begin the real work. This involves designing, cutting, shaping, sanding, more sanding, and finally finish/install. Each piece is really up to the artists eye, and we have very long conversations about what board should go where when it comes to a build. By doing this we are ensuring each board belongs where its placed. These trees take a very long time to grow and its important to take our time with them. Our end goal is a cohesive look that captures the clients vision.
Living with our furniture in your space:
The idea that everything has been carefully sourced and worked into your space is as special as it sounds. We like to believe that our furniture is more of a feeling than it is something pretty to look at. Something that inspires you to be creative or think about things in a different way. Every day you wake up and are in the presence of beautiful furniture and woodwork is a good day!
Reclaiming Pieces of History
Reclaimed chestnut beams for flooring and tables
Old Barns in New England (Hampden, MA)
This particular barn looks to be about 200 years old and has reached the end of its life. It will come down, and it will be repurposed. It is important to identify what is worth saving an what is not worth saving. This barn is constructed with chestnut, southern yellow pine and hemlock timbers. There is no doubt that these timbers can be repurposed into something beautiful for residential or commercial applications. We repurpose reclaimed beams into the following:
- Flooring
- Tables
- Benches
- Faux Beams
If you are interested in having a piece of furniture made from reclaimed material, please contact us. Or if you have material that you think we would be interested in please contact us.
Ultimate Guide To Buying And Maintaining A Table
Everything you need to know about purchasing a custom live edge table.
Measure the space
There is nothing worse than buying a piece of furniture only to find it won't fit in your beautiful new space. As the woodworking proverb goes, "measure twice, cut once". However, we are in the "board shortening department". It is a good rule of thumb to leave at least 3 feet all the way around the table. This gives plenty of room for chairs to slide in and out without hitting the walls. For example, If I have a dining room that is 15' long x 10' wide I would be looking at a maximum of 9' long x 4' wide for my table (assuming there is not major walkways/other furniture). While it is nice to always see your table, you don't want to be bumping into or walking around it constantly.
When it comes to shapes, you have options
Depending on the size of your room, a certain shape table may be more suitable to your space. Here are the options:
Family size = (+/-) Table size
In general you want to allow 24"/person at the table. Chairs are typically 18-20" wide (its always good to check your chair size). Think about the way you entertain. If you serve family style think about adding some width to your overall table (remember to use trivets/potholders under hot pans).
Table Base Options
You can really change the look and feel of any table by choosing the right base. It is also important to remember that the base of your table is functional and not just for looks.
- Pedestal base - Recommended for round tables. Turnings are Made from 100% solid wood of your choice
- Trestle Base - A classic design that is visually appealing while providing the necessary strength. This style also allows you to place chairs/benches around the table without hitting your knees.
- Four Legs and Aprons - A traditional farmtable base. Legs and aprons are mortise and tenoned together for strength and longevity.
- Cast Iron - Hands down one of the best solutions for slab tables. I don't think there is a better look in the industry right now (but im biased). This is our most popular base.
Design and Style
We suggest working with an interior designer if you are unsure about which direction to go. It is important to remember you are investing into your home, family and life. A designer can lead you in a direction you never thought could be achieved in your space. Crafting a balanced and truly one of a kind space that fits you and your family's lifestyle. If you would like to work with our list of designers please contact us.
Material options
This is where Hopes Woodshop stands on its own. Because we own and operate our own sawmill we control the flow of materials in our shop. We like to stay true to the natural characteristics of our material. Celebrating the colors, knots, cracks, voids, inclusions, live (natural) edges, etc... The majority of our inventory is slabs that are sawn in sequential order. This gives you the ability to match pieces together for perfect symmetry and grain patterns. We stock dimensional lumber in the same fashion. We specialize in the following Live edge slabs and boards:
Single slab, Book-match, Glue-up etc...
We specialize in live edge slabs. Not every table needs to be live edge though. For example if you wanted a single slab (tree slice) but wanted it to have a square edge that is possible. Here are some of the options we offer:
Details (Butterflies, Voids, Knots)
Some things are going to be a given when dealing with big live edge slabs. They are more susceptible to cracking during drying and they are not graded. Therefore they are going to have some cracks, knots, voids, etc... This is where we sharpen our tools and get busy. It is in these details we are able to make truly one of a kind pieces of furniture. Nothing fake about it, we roll with whatever the tree throws at us. If you want us to simulate a live edge, you might need to go somewhere else. We stay as natural to the process as possible. Hand flattening each board so we can study the life of the tree. Here are a few details we love to showcase in our furniture:
The Finish
Every table we make we finish. Lately we have been using Rubio Monocoat on all of our pieces and we have been very pleased. This is an extremely safe product for us and your family. It is durable and will stand up to the daily wear and tear. If you would like a different finish we can also do a urethane upon request.
Closing Remarks
We hope this post has pointed you in the right direction. If you have any further questions in regards to your custom project please feel free to contact us here:
Also watch this quick video on the story of Hopes Woodshop
Woodworking classes for Winter 2018
Attention woodworkers, non woodworkers and everyone in between!
We are excited to launch the opening of our custom furniture shop here in Western Massachusetts. To celebrate we will be offering our very own brand of furniture making classes at our Woodshop in Three Rivers, MA. For the first class we are going to open the shop for 6 people to make your very own slab coffee table. The best part is, the course is going to be free. You just have to pay for your materials (have to buy from us). If things go well we will add more throughout the year. See details below:
Course Offering
- Slab coffee table - We will give you a $50 credit to purchase the slab that you like best. I will work with you to create something that fits your space and design aesthetic. In the course we will flatten and sand the slabs smooth. We will fill and patch voids as needed and to your liking. Bases will be (4) round tapered legs (Don't have a photo because I sold the model:/....) . Limit is 6 people. Cost is just material. Course will be Saturdays from 9-2 for 4 weeks starting Jan 13th.
To sign up for this course contact us here! I look forward to seeing some new faces in the shop and traveling down this woodworking journey together.
Cheers!
Marc
Live edge furniture showroom now open in Massachusetts
Located exactly 1 Lumineers album, 1 cold brew, and 4 "where is this place"(or 1 hr) outside Boston MA.
How far away?
NYC- Two and a half // Providence - Hour and fifteen // Hartford - Hour //Boston - Hour and ten
Why you should come out
Have you ever experienced furniture being made? Creating beautiful heirloom tables and furniture from one solid tree is something everyone should see for themselves. It will change the way you see furniture forever.
What to expect on arrival?
At the time of me writing this post, we still have no sign on the building. That said, if you use Google Maps it will bring you directly to us and I put a photo of main entrance on Google. Now lets get down to the nitty gritty details:)
A large selection of lumber is always our first priority. After we mill the trees at our sawmill and dry them to 5-10% moisture, they come to "chill" in our showroom. You can pick out the slab/boards that you like with me right there saying "This tree came from a guy named mike, he was a good guy and we took the tree because he wanted to plant a garden". The stories are free. If you want to peruse by yourself thats cool, Ill stay busy until you're ready to talk. Saturdays can be crazy, so if you want my undivided attention I recommend making an appointment. Music is a must for the woodshop (I like Mumford and sons and Bon Iver) so thats whats normally playing.
What kind of furniture do we make/sell?
The good kind. Heres a quick list of tables we make and have for sale on a regular basis:
- Traditional Farm Tables with 4 legs, aprons and breadboard ends
- Slab Table with/without live edge (Single Board, No glueup, Tree Slice)
- Live edge Book matched table tops and cast iron bases
- Wood Slab Queen and King sized beds
- Modern Windsor Chairs by O&G
- Benches and stools
Delivery?
We do have some things that are grab and go but for the most part its small batch production WIP (works in progress). Lead time is 4-6 weeks which is down from 8-10 Weeks, woot woot!!! We off white glove service that can be purchased. Shop pickup is free.
Things to do when you visit?
Let me know if you find anything?!?! If you're like me, the only thing on your mind is "where can I eat"? Here are my recommendations:
Breakfast: Pan'e Dolcetti - Really bomb tomato Mozzarella sandwich on homemade focaccia bread and coffee to boot.
Lunch/Dinner: Pinnochios Three Rivers - Literally right over the bridge from the warehouse. Great Italian food. A little carboload for the ride home (Someones falling asleep for sure).
We are 15 minutes away from Brimfield Antique Flea Market, so definitely plan on swinging by before or after you head out to that flea market jazz.
Make an Appointment here
Live edge slab tables with cast iron bases
Wood Selections
Single Slab
We utilize uniform slabs so the shape of the table is consistent throughout. Generally 40% Markup depending on material.
Bookmatched Live Edge
You can do any of our tables with or without the live edge. We always remove the bark. With book matched tops, we are able to achieve wider widths like 40-46" wide with just 2 boards. These are sawn in sequence from the same tree so the grain and color matches.
Bowties, fills, and add ons
We only put bowties where they need to be. These are structural and are crucial in maintaining the integrity of the slabs. We always epoxy voids in the tables so nothing finds its way in and can't get out.
Company Boards - We offer custom table extensions for when you have those family get togethers and need a little more space. These are stored in a closet when not being used, and put in when the Turkeys ready!
Cast Iron Bases
We have partnered up with Ares Iron based in Providence RI to offer you one of a kind pieces.
We will continue to update our inventory with Slab table tops that are available to pair with these bases. To see more please visit the "Shop" tab on our website. Also, if you have a specific request please feel free to contact us.
John Quincy Adams Beech Tree
Salvaging a Beech Tree from Adams National Historic Park in Quincy MA. This tree is believed to be from the 1800's.
Salvaging a small piece of New England History
It's always a sad day when these beautiful giants have reached the end of their life. However, due to safety concerns this tree needed to be removed. Because of our work these trees go on to become much more than firewood. The team at Adams National Historical Park will repurpose the lumber for their own use. We cant wait to see what will become of this beautiful tree.
