Every Project is a Play Waiting to Come to Life on the Stage
SPECIES FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE: Beli, Lati
FIND INFORMATION ON THIS AND ADDITIONAL SPECIES AT WWW.IWPAWOOD.ORG
When homeowners Rick and Keith commissioned Danny Schwalje, owner of AVL Custom Made in Asheville, North Carolina, to create an artisanal table for their new home nestled in the Black Mountains of western North Carolina, it was an exciting opportunity to create a unique work of art. “The rush I get from conceptualizing a piece and drawing it out of the ether is what really makes me tick,” said Schwalje. “With custom furniture, every piece is different and begins with the client’s design aesthetic,” Schwalje explained. “In this case, Rick and Keith wanted to tie together the prominent features of their open-plan home, such as the stone peninsula in the kitchenand the trapezoidal chandelier above the table. Above all, they wanted to bring the stunning view of the Black Mountains into the room.”
“Danny suggested we take a look at a large bar top he’d just finished for a restaurant in downtown Asheville,” McIntyre said. “We were blown away by the craftsmanship and quality of his work. We wanted to fill our new home with local artists who reflect the feel of the area, and Danny guided us on this journey to the perfect table for our dining room.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF REGGIE TIDWELL
DANNY SCHWALJE DISCUSSES DESIGN OPTIONS FOR THIS CUTOM COMMISSION, USING MODELS HE HAS CONSTRUCTED IN HIS ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA SHOP.
A site visit to the home was followed by a trip to Cormark International and a walk through their vast catalog of hardwood species to see what jumped out. A Beli (Julbernardia pellegriniana) slab matched the size requirements and, with its warm, subtle tone and moderate density, stood out as the choice for the tabletop. “Full Beli slabs have a great range of visual interest,” Schwalje noted. “In this case, the large crack through the center of the slab suggested the river concept.”
Watch
a short video of the table being created by artist, Danny Schwalje.
“We settled on the wood from Africa as it had a look that intrigued us as well as a personal connection since we have visited Africa five times,” said McIntyre. “We decided to leave it as close to the way we found it to keep a natural look. The river of color down the center was an ideal way to incorporate our love of water and the deep green of the mountains into the space.”
THE EPOXY COLOR FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE WAS CAREFULLY CHOSEN FOR THE SPACE AND ADDS DEPTH TO THE TABLE.
A river table is a fusion of functional furniture and unique art piece. The ‘live edge’ of the tree is turned inward, and this ‘valley’ is then filled with epoxy resin, so the table looks as though it has a river running through it. The epoxy river draws the eye first to the table, then through the room and ultimately out the massive windows to the mountains beyond.
Lati (Amphimas pterocarpoides), sometimes known as White Wenge, was selected for the table base because of its straight, tight grain and restrained tone allowing the stain to be customized to the color palate in the room. The trapezoidal profile of the base was designed to echo the shape of the hanging chandelier above the table.
When choosing materials for high-end, creative pieces, performance is a key criterion, according to Schwalje. He often uses Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril), Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), Limba (Terminalia superba) and Wenge (Millettia laurentii) as well as varieties of Maple and Walnut, including monochromatic Peruvian Walnut for modern settings and the more colorful, busier American Walnut for traditional applications.
In addition to bespoke tables, AVL Custom Made specializes in creating unique mantles and interior accent pieces, chandeliers and wall sculptures. Recently, Schwalje has adjusted his business model due to the sourcing, supply chain, and other macro-economic dynamics that have rocked the industry since the start of the pandemic. For example, with steel orders backed up for months, Schwalje has shifted away from his signature metal table bases and turned to engineering creative wood support systems.
“There is definitely market turbulence out there, and it’s about being agile and nimble,” he stated. “Yet people still appreciate unique and beautiful custom-made pieces. In fact, I think we are actually experiencing a creative renaissance in high end bespoke furniture.”
“The strict design lines of the past are becoming more fluid, allowing for more individualization and expression of each person’s design aesthetic, more varied combinations, more freedom to explore and exhibit one’s own true aesthetic. In addition, we see designers combining many different elements in a single aesthetic. It’s where modern meets organic meets monotone with some giant color splashes. It’s similar to the modern music landscape that can be a blend of jazz, hip-hop, rock, Arabic pop, and Japanese speed-metal.”
Like most custom artisans, Schwalje embraces change and explores new approaches and new possibilities with each and every project he undertakes. “That’s how you interpret the creative vision of clients, designers and homeowners. It’s like the shop is a stage and each new project is a play waiting to come to life on the stage.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF REGGIE TIDWELL
THE ‘LIVE EDGE’ OF THE TREE IS TURNED INWARD, AND THIS ‘VALLEY’ IS THEN FILLED WITH EPOXY RESIN, SO THE TABLE LOOKS AS THOUGH IT HAS A RIVER RUNNING THROUGH IT.
Walk around of the table being installed in its new home.
Frequently asked questions
What wood species was used for the river table top in the Black Mountains home?+
A Beli (Julbernardia pellegriniana) slab was selected for the tabletop. Its warm, subtle tone, moderate density, and a large crack through the center made it ideal for the river concept.
What is a river table?+
A river table is a fusion of functional furniture and art piece where the 'live edge' of the tree is turned inward and the resulting valley is filled with epoxy resin. This makes the table appear to have a river running through it.
Why was Lati wood chosen for the table base?+
Lati (Amphimas pterocarpoides), sometimes known as White Wenge, was selected because of its straight, tight grain and restrained tone, which allowed the stain to be customized to the room's color palette. Its trapezoidal profile was designed to echo the shape of the chandelier above the table.
What hardwood species does Danny Schwalje commonly use for high-end custom furniture?+
Schwalje frequently uses Jatoba, Guanacaste, Limba, and Wenge, along with varieties of Maple and Walnut. He uses monochromatic Peruvian Walnut for modern settings and the more colorful American Walnut for traditional applications.
How has AVL Custom Made adapted to supply chain disruptions since the pandemic?+
With steel orders backed up for months, Schwalje has shifted away from his signature metal table bases and moved toward engineering creative wood support systems. He emphasizes staying agile and nimble amid market turbulence.
Where did Danny Schwalje source the hardwood slabs for the custom river table?+
Schwalje took the homeowners to Cormark International, where they walked through the company's catalog of hardwood species to find the right material. The Beli slab matched the size requirements and stood out for the tabletop.