Urban Reclaimed

Sustainable Furniture

Times, they are a changin’

Some of you may have noticed that for the past few months at Mississippi Wood Trader things have been a little bit different. 

Some of you, however, may have noticed very little change, because Darwin has always been a bit like pinning jello to the wall, as I like to say. 

Darwin has been difficult to get in touch with, some would venture to even say impossible. I have been answering the phone and the e-mails. Basically I’ve taken on the role of one said Darwin Crawford.

For the most part it has been flowing pretty smoothly. Sure there were a few bumps in the road and a handful of meltdowns here and there, but through all the hiccups Darwin and I learned a lot about each other and the business. 

Bottom line changes have been made. The biggest change came when Darwin was offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to co-host a television show on HGTV. Naturally, he jumped - practically leaped - at the opportunity. 

Needless to say, Darwin stepped out of the lumber spotlight into a whole different spotlight. It was a quite the transition. I will be the first to admit that I was terrified of where that left me (and Praia), but I am happy to say that we came out relatively unscathed and if nothing else a whole lot wiser. Darwin has faired well albeit a bit sleep deprived, but who isn’t these days.

He gets to play with tools and boss people around all day long. While on film. It’s his dream come true. Next thing you know he will plotting his takeover of the entire channel. He has gotten to build some really amazing things, meet an awesome crew of people, and do what he does best: entertain. 

I bring you all this news because as luck would have it, HGTV actually could put up with Darwin and the show he is a co-host on premiers for it’s second season THIS weekend.

The show is called Elbow Room and it will be on this Saturday (April 20) at 9am EST / 6am PST on HGTV. Please tune in and show your support. Set your DVRs, VCRs or whatever technology is doing these days. Spread the word and of course send us feedback of what you think!

I personally couldn’t be prouder or more excited for Darwin in his new venture. 

Oh! Look for some of our products in the episodes and ya know, look for Darwin too…

-Dot

The Sinker Cypress table has finally been finished.

After going back and forth about the best slab that would stand up to the beauty of a base that the National Metal Museum of Memphis created, we all finally settled on our last Sinker Cypress Slab.

If you are going to have a metal base that is a recreation of a tree, complete with limbs and roots, one must absolutely go with a slab that has a great deal of history and can add too, not take away from, the physical prowess of the base but also won’t be outshone.

Fishing anything out of water is no easy task. Trees are no exception. When Darwin and I got our hands on two slabs of Sinker Cypress, were absolutely awestruck. Magnanimous, yet delicate. Gorgeous, yet hardy. These two slabs were the epitome of what we try to achieve.

Each slab had original hack saw marks on them and when the Metal Museum contacted us about this project, we followed the dimensions they wanted, but we absolutely insisted on keeping the character of the slab. The original saw marks stayed, the ends were sculpted to resemble the edges as much as man made edges can, and the stain must absolutely be clear.

Once boxed up and packing peanuted within an inch of it’s life, the freight company was under strict orders to make sure this slab arrive safely, or else. The slab made it in one piece and we were assured that everyone at the museum was caught mouths agape, drooling.

We couldn’t be prouder to be associated with this project and hope the homeowners find the beauty as inspiring as well have.

How to make a table - Urban Reclaimed edition

1.Pick out one of a kind slabs: Spalted Hickory

2.Have slabs made into stunning table top

3.Make sweet “V” bases for each end of table

4.Assemble table for a dinner party people won’t forget.

Did I forget to mention they are also getting a matching bench? 

Updating

We’ve revamped our website. 

Check it out and let us know what you think. Any and all ideas/comments are welcome.

Urban Reclaimed

Check out the new Ambrosia Maple Side Table!

It currently has a matching piece in production.

They are priced at $600/piece or $950 for the set.

Go to urbanreclaimed.com for more information! 

Check out our new tables. They are still awaiting bases and base designs. 

The “Vintage Surfboard” is a coffee table and will be on display at I.D. Lab starting Friday. 

The two Walnut pieces as well as the two Ambrosia Maple foldover tables are going to be smaller pieces. They will fit next to a sofa or a bed. They also will carry a smaller price tag compared to our other pieces. 

Any and all input is greatly appreciated. 

One of our prototypes needed a bit of a facelift.

It was originally standing on one lonesome leg. We decided to “bulk” the piece up a bit. We added a blade leg as well as a metal shelf that intersects with the blade leg. Not only does it give the added value of more storage, it also make the table significantly sturdier than the first go round.

It took us a while to figure out exactly what we were looking for in this piece, but I think it strikes a good balance of rarity and useability.

Let us know what you think. As always check out our other products: Urban Reclaimed, as well as our Facebook and Twitter.

Deodar Cedar Tables

The Dinner Expo went off without a hitch and the tables were a big hit!

Here is what they looked like lined up end to end. These tables would make King Arthur blush.

Once properly set, they transformed into pieces of art.

A good time was had by all and we hope to be able to do more events like this in the future. With not enough words found in the English language to scrape the surface of our gratitude, we would like to use all of them to thank everyone involved in getting the tables from production to camera ready; most importantly we would like to thank I Love L.A. Eats and PushStart Kitchen for allowing us to be a part of such a momentous occasion.

*Check out our Facebook page to view more pictures of the tables in action.

The Dinner Expo You Wish You Could Go To!

First off, let me begin by telling you that most things I do are motivated by either food, surfing or running.  This one is most definitely food. 

See, about a month or two ago, our friends @ I Love LA Eats (ilovelaeats.com) told me about this speakeasy dinner club called PushStart Kitchen.  Wait, speakeasy?  at a derelict warehouse?  with a badass of a chef named zack?  In.  Totally In. 

So, after a lot of food, some wine, a bit of home-brew and some Costa Rican Candy, I decided that Zack was not to be rid of me so easily.  So when our now mutual friends at I Love LA Eats decided to host a private dinner with PushStart at the wheel, I decided that in order to be taken seriously, a meal had better be served on one hell of a table. 

Enter The Deodar - rescued by our friends @ TreeTailors, and sawn by me, this tree (well, a small part of it) is going to be a 21’ (2 piece, but still badass) table to seat 22, and will hopefully inspire someone out there to buy it!  Best deal will be to those at dinner who catch me after a few cocktails…..

And to make it better, I’ll personally tell you the story of how it went from this ->

To this-> (ready for lacquer and bases)

<-This is it, before lacquer and the bases, which are steel, and beautifully made by my good friend MC Lemay, @ Lemaydesigns.com. 

If you want to see it finally finished, before it goes online, and in front of the yearning masses armed with the last of their ill-fated subprime home equity line, and are hungry, thirsty, or just like fog machines, laser shows, good conversation and beautiful people, then send an email to: pushstartkitchen@gmail.com, and maybe, just maybe, you can make the guest list.

If you can’t make dinner, and still want the table, shoot us an email.