There's an old walnut tree that has fallen on my parents' farm. Would anyone, they asked, have an interest in it? Um, "Yes!", I said. For my own inspiration (and probably for many others' after Hurricane Irene) I went out searching for dining tables that are made from felled trees:
Here are some favorites from what I found:
- The dining table at Hudson, New York's Ten Broeck Cottage is made of pine from the property.
- This kitchen and dining pavilion featured in Dwell includes a dining table made from a fallen tree.
- Meyer Wells is a business in the northwest that's set up upon building tables from felled trees.
- This giant table was made by Beacon Custom Woodwork of a felled oak. Read its amazing story here.
If I actually do something with my parents' old walnut, it won't be easy. I will have to hire someone with a portable mill to come out to the property and process it. The wood will then need to be either kiln-dried or will need to dry out on its own for at least a year or so. Then, finally, a table could be crafted from it by a woodworker. It would take quite a lot of time and money, but imagine what a treasure such a dining table would be!
Related: Live Edge Wood in the Kitchen
(Images: Ten Broeck Cottage, Dwell, Meyer Wells, Beacon Custom Woodwork, )
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The store that I manage is an outdoor lifestyle & travel clothing company. The original founders brought in a huge and very heavy piece of redwood that had fallen down and they harvested. For many years they used it at their cabin (it even has a burn in it from a single burner camp stove!) but it made its way into the store 20+ years ago. The table legs are huge redwood stumps. Between the leg and the table, the combined weight has to be 500 pounds! The table is beautiful and get comments on it constantly.
Does anybody know if there is a way to take normal processed wood and make it look like these felled pieces?
Walnut is one of the more valuable hardwoods. I'm sure you could make arrangements with a local woodworker to help with getting it cut & dried in exchange for some of the wood.
that first one looks much more decorative than functional to me. that gap/height shift in the center would translate into LOTS of spills with someone like me!