Design and Materials
At HarlemBuilt, the design of each custom piece starts with a conversation. Function, proportion, aesthetics, materials, and finish are all essential. First and foremost, furniture has to be functional. It needs to fit you and your home, and be pleasing to the eye and touch. HarlemBuilt prides itself on using tradition joinery and an attention to detail that you won’t in find mass-produced furniture. Materials and finish effect both function and aesthetics.
Materials
HarlemBuilt specializes in using solid wood for our furniture, although there are times that we use sheet goods, bamboo and veneer. When you commission a piece, we pick out the lumber specifically for your piece. Extra attention is given to the grain pattern, flow and color. We also partner with other artisans for custom metal work. Our goal is to use locally grown and harvested lumber. When a piece calls for imported lumber, we work to make sure that it has been sustainably harvested. We use a variety of sources for our lumber, including some excellent sources for live edge slabs, which are an excellent choice for a truly unique piece. Here are a few of our favorite species:
Ambrosia
Maple
Cherry
Walnut
FINISH
The choice of finish affects both the function and the appearance. Most often, we choose a clear hand rubbed finish that accentuates the natural beauty and tone of the wood. When stain or paint is called for, we have a variety of samples to choose from.
