The Main Reason I Am Obsessed With Live Edge

Live Edge slabs are breathtakingly beautiful!

Photo by Janice Tovey

This is a slab of Live Edge Black Walnut that will be crafted into a coffee table. This wood was reclaimed from a tree that was damaged badly in a wind storm and had to be taken down.

Live Edge pieces are gaining popularity not only because they’re incredibly sturdy, but because their rugged beauty is unparalleled. The natural elegance of the stunning wood in Live Edge dining tables, coffee tables, and night stands really can take your breathe away.

I believe it has something to do with texture obsession. The obsession with natural wood in all of its forms. I find myself gushing and lusting over pieces of raw, imperfect, primal, natural, unprocessed wood. The smell, the feel and the sight.

Live Edge is called Live Edge because the slab of wood is preserved in its circumferential entirety. The outer corners of the visible tree trunk remain. The Live Edge maintains the natural beauty of its home, the forest.

The native spirit of the wood is kept alive and the edges of the tree are left untouched.

Live Edge lumber is used along with other salvaged and reclaimed materials. Live Edge pieces are popular for their sturdiness, rugged elegance and beauty.

Live Edge furniture initially gained popularity in mid-Century modern homes. The architect George Nakashima crafted a series of Live Edge furniture for Knoll in 1946. Many architects and designers of this era were strong supporters of integrating organic and natural elements into their designs.

Many believe that Live Edge is here to stay. The main reason is that wood has never really gone out of style. A lot of trends come and go but wood has been used for centuries for furniture.

The slab is cut and the bark removed. This is done by using a draw knife. After the bark is removed a small nylon or wire brush or sander is used to scrub away any remaining cambium-layer fibres. The next step is to sand the wood. Any splits in the wood can be bridged with butterfly keys. Any holes in the wood need to be filled. The slab can be finished and sealed.