Our process
Most furniture shows up with no story behind it. Ours starts with Ontario hardwood, and you can follow it, and have a say in it, at every step until it's set down in your home.
The source
Some of our wood starts as logs we bring in ourselves, from Ontario woodlots and from trees that had to come down in towns and on private properties. The rest comes from Ontario sawmills and suppliers we trust. Either way, we know where it came from, and if you ask, we'll tell you.
Your partHave a tree of your own, from the family farm or your own yard? We can take it through this same process and build your table from it.
Sawing
When we bring in a log, it's sawn into slabs and boards. It's the first time anyone sees what's inside: the colour, the figure, the flaws. Every piece comes out different, and that's what makes it real and makes your table one of a kind.
Drying
Fresh-sawn wood is full of water, so the boards from our logs are stacked and stickered to air-dry, then finished in the kiln. Depending on how thick it is, that takes anywhere from eight months to two or three years. Whatever its source, every board is dry and stable before it reaches our racks.
The racks
Once it's dry, the lumber goes on our racks in London. Furniture makers and woodworkers across Ontario buy from these racks through our Wood Shop, and it's the same lumber we reach for when we build your table.
Your partYou're welcome to come walk the racks with us and see the wood in person.
Selection
Choosing the wood matters more than almost anything else we do. Whatever species you choose, we hand-select every board for your piece. We match colour and grain across the top, keep knots and voids to a minimum, and cut out any splits or wane.
Your partCome by the shop and see your boards before we pick them. If you can't make it in, we can send photos of select specialty pieces.
The build
Your boards are milled flat and square here, through our 52" wide planer-sander, so every glue-up is seamless and the top comes out clean. Each table is built to a shop drawing, and you get a copy before we start, so the size and proportions are settled long before delivery day.
Your partYou approve the drawing, and we check in with updates while your table is on the bench.
The finish
We send wood samples to your home so you can see the finish next to your floors and cabinets instead of on a screen. Choose one of our stains or have us match a colour you already have. Then every table gets a professional spray finish here in our shop: a durable, protective clear coat in the sheen you want.
Your partWe keep sending samples until you find the one you love.
Home
Pick it up at the shop, have our own team deliver and set it up across Southwestern Ontario, or let us build a padded crate and ship it across Canada. Every table is backed by our 5-year warranty.
Whether you want a table built around your home or you're building one yourself, it starts on the same racks.
