It was worth the trip

I recently went to the Mid-West to say goodbye to an old friend.  I decided to drive, so that I could take time to process my many memories and thoughts.

On my journey, I ran across a mill in Kansas that shares many of the same ideals that we do. I brought home some very interesting wood, that we are making into furniture:

Willow oak live edge dining table.  Must admit, didn’t even know there was a species called willow oak.  Which is it…willow or oak?  This is a very dense, hard wood in the oak family with willow leaves.  This particular wood was from a tree that had been exposed to some heavy fertilizer during its life.  The iron in the fertilizer caused dark streaking throughout the wood, that is striking. This is such a rare tree and find for us to make into a dining table and soon to come console table. The metal legs have a wood inset.

Hackberry…another beautiful hardwood that we really don’t see here in Colorado.  This gorgeous table is made from two book-matched pieces of hackberry.  It’s light…it’s dark…it’s so very pretty.  Note the book-matched “holes” at the one end.

We have some additional wood species that will be designed into furniture in the upcoming months.

Heirloom Quality

What is heirloom quality? Simply put, it’s an item that is made with quality materials, in a timeless design, that is meant to last for years.

We strive to design and build our furniture to be heirloom quality furniture. Our pieces are solid wood. Solid wood should hold up for decades. If needed, it can be sanded and repaired.

In addition, we don’t design towards trends. We believe our furniture should look as good in 25 years, as it does today.

Part of our goal in designing high quality, long lasting furniture, is to cut down on the amount of furniture that’s thrown into landfills. It is our responsibility to design timeless pieces that last rather than trendy, disposable furniture.

In addition to the environmental benefits of heirloom furniture, is the ability to hand down a piece of furniture that has been well loved, and well used to a new generation.  A piece that is beautiful, but also has the character and memories of many years.  This passing of ownership may be to a family member, or a complete stranger that appreciates the quality and care of an heirloom quality piece.

Often, a solid wood, heirloom quality piece of furniture is the same price, or not much more than a disposable piece of furniture. And you can buy knowing that you are buying something that will last.

The end grain doesn’t lie…

When looking at furniture, people are often confused by how to tell if something is solid wood, or a veneer.  An easy way to tell is to look at the end grain or edge of the piece.  Does the grain on the top continue all the way down and through the edge?  If so, it’s probably solid wood. If you see a seam, or the grain doesn’t match up, it’s probably a veneer. 

We always use solid wood, and never veneer

What size dining table should I buy???

We get asked this question a lot.  It’s an important consideration when purchasing solid wood furniture. So, we’ve provided some information to help you in this decision below.

First and foremost, spend some time in the room where the table will be. Think about the look you want…do you prefer minimal, cozy, casual, traditional, or elegant?  How many people will be sitting at the table the majority of the time? How many do you ultimately want to seat? (Ask us about flexible options for additional seating). We encourage our clients to tape off various sizes on the floor to see how things feel.

Industry standards recommend the following:

Approximately 2’ per person for seating. This would mean that a 6’ table will seat approximately 8, 3 on each side and one on each end. This can vary based on seating…chairs with arms take more space, and bench seating can accommodate more people.

Allow 3’ around the table to pull out chairs.

Another thing to consider is the amount of time you think you will be living in your current home. If this home is somewhat temporary (1-5 years), you may not want to purchase a 10’ table that works will in this house, but may not fit in your next home. Many times, furniture can be offered with the sale of a home, for additional cost.

To sum all of this up…we encourage you to buy the dining table that fits “most” of your life. A table that you will use every day, and it won’t feel too big or too small, but be just right. And if you’ve been wanting something for a long time, that may or may not make sense, go for it. Our home furnishings should WOW us every time we look at them.

Japandi

We’ve written blogs in the past about the importance of not following trends, but discovering and embracing your own design style.  We still feel this is an important part of creating a home that works with your lifestyle, while also bringing you joy.

However, there is a design style that is getting talked about a lot lately…Japandi.

Japandi is a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian design.  The Japandi design look is imperfect, functional, minimal, warm, clean and calming.  It embraces nature, and allows us to reconnect with natural elements that bring harmony into our lives. It brings the outside in, while maintaining a clean, functional, minimal look that works in everyday life.

Without having a name for it, we realized that we have been incorporating Japandi design elements in our furniture design for years.  When creating a piece of furniture or wood accessory, we always strive for natural beauty, and uncompromising style and function. 

Whatever you consider your design style, you may want to consider a few elements of Japandi design.

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made.  Colorado Style.

Functional Art

It’s often thought that we decorate our homes by first putting in all of the functional pieces, such as cabinets, appliances, lighting and furniture.  Then when we are done with function, we add art.

However, it is possible to combine function and art.  Functional art combines the beautiful aesthetic of art, with the functionality of everyday use.  It’s art that can be used, not just looked at.  

 When we design our furniture and accessory pieces, we try to look for the “art” in the wood.  It can be the color, the shape, the sinuous line of a live edge, the movement of the grain, or even the imperfections of a knot or hole.  We use these artistic elements when creating a functional piece.  Thereby creating functional art.

Feel free to contact us about the possibility of a piece of functional art for your home.

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made.  Colorado Style.

Visceral

We often have a very strong emotional response to things found in nature…an elk in the morning meadow, a flowing river, the unique pattern of a snowfall, a beautiful rock, or a piece of wood.  

This response goes beyond intellectual.  It’s something that we feel in our heart and our gut.  We don’t think of why, we just stop to appreciate it and allow ourselves to “feel it”.

When we are selecting wood for our pieces, we look for wood that has gorgeous, unique graining, color, shape and unique characteristics. In short, we try to buy wood using our emotions.

When we are creating furniture from the wood, we try to “see” how it was meant to be.  Sometimes that means leaving wood as a big chunky table.  Or it may be working the wood to allow its uniqueness to really come through.

We hope that in turn, when our customers see our furniture and accessories, they have a visceral response to certain pieces. Imagine having a piece of wood furniture in your home that creates awe, makes you pause, and gives you that deep emotional response every time that you see it. Let’s be honest…don’t we all need a little bit more of that in our lives?

Colorado wood.  Colorado Made.   Colorado Style.

Simplicity

Simplicity 


Like most of you, we’ve been spending more time in our home the past few weeks.  Doing things we don’t always take the time to do like cleaning our cupboards and closets, trying new recipes, dressing up the cats...

As our lives have slowed down and we are spending more time at home, we are seeing our house in a different light.  There are things we are appreciating more.  We love the small size of the house.  The simple functionality of the kitchen and bathrooms. Love, love, love the dining table that has doubled as a desk.  The beauty of the wood grain in a headboard.  The look and cleanliness of the hardwood floors throughout (our big project last summer).

There are also things that we have realized we probably need to change.  Who ever thought the built in entertainment center was a good idea??? We’ve already started designing a new entertainment piece that will fit our lifestyle.  

We’ve realized what works for us are rooms and furniture that are functional, high quality, solid wood, easy care, and has a timeless design.  Simplicity through great design.  

Are there furniture pieces in your home that you would like to change?  If there are, and you think we can help, please send us an email, and we can start talking.  We would love to help you love your home and furniture.

       Colorado wood.     Colorado made.     Colorado design.

Just say no to trends...

Just say no to trends...

We are bombarded by articles, ads, and images that tout the latest design trends. This may be styles, colors, or materials. While it may be good to use this to get a fresh idea, or inspiration, we would caution you about following a trend when it comes to your design choices and dollars.

The danger in making costly design choices based on a trend, is that in a year or two, another trend comes along. This makes your super trendy choices look dated. We’ve been in homes where we can tell exactly what year the homeowners remodeled. Often the homeowner is looking to make changes to try to catch up to the latest trends. This is a race that can’t be won.

We encourage you to embrace a more timeless look in the expensive, major components of your home. Certainly it’s great to paint an accent wall with the color of the year. Or bring in fun accessories that are trending. These things can be easily and inexpensively changed out.

Don’t be afraid to buck trends completely, and embrace your own personal style. Some of the most spectacular homes we’ve seen, are completely unique, just like the homeowner. Tell your story with decorating, not the story of a designer that doesn’t know you. You don’t want your home to be beautiful, but not reflect your wonderful personality.

And remember...quality never, ever goes out of style.

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made. Colorado Style

Read about Alpine Blue and Beetle Kill Pine in Furniture Today

Alpine Blue was in an article about beetle kill pine in a national Furniture publication called Furniture Today. You can click on the link to read it in its entirety...

https://www.furnituretoday.com/wood-furniture/alpine-blue-home-uses-colorado-wood-to-create-handmade-pieces/

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made. Colorado Style

Denver Channel 7 did story on Beetle Kill Pine

We were recently very honored to be featured in an article about beetle kill pine on The Denver Channel 7. We’ve copied a portion of the article below, or you can click on the link to read it in its entirety...

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/beauty-from-beetle-kill-colorado-companies-make-high-quality-furniture-decor-from-dead-trees

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made. Colorado Style

Meet Dr. Gary Hoag, a Study in the Custom Wood Furniture Process…

Dr. Hoag is an author, professor, and scholar who spends a great deal of time in his home office. He does practically everything there, from creating an inspiring seminar, to reading journals, writing his next book, videoconferencing with clients, or for fun, planning trips to track down trout in remote places with his son, Sam.

He jokes that he only leaves it to refill his coffee, use the bathroom, and sleep.

When he decided to remodel it, he came to Alpine Blue Home and asked us to work with him to create a functional, comfortable, and creative space for him to work. Below are some of his thoughts on the custom design process.

Q.  Why did you decide to build custom instead of buying in-stock furniture?

Three reasons drove my decision: (1) Beauty. Alpine Blue Home does beautiful work. (2) Fit. I have a bad back, and I spend a lot of time, sometimes too much time, in my home office. So, I knew I needed both a sitting desk and a standing desk that were just the right dimensions for me. (3) Functionality. I’ve never had enough space to fit all my books. I wanted shelf space that would fit my needs and grow with me.

Q.  How did Alpine Blue Home help you create your space?

Four distinct actions come to mind. (1) Visit. They scheduled a time and the master craftsman came to see my office and brainstorm with me. (2) Listen. He asked me what I did and what I felt like I needed. (3) Sketches. Almost instantly, he sketched a variety of ideas that included a mix of wood and steel, then waited patiently for me to decide what I wanted. (4) Estimate. Once I picked the design I liked, he estimated the cost and timeline for production and had it ready ahead of schedule.

Q.  Did you feel that you were listened to and respected during the design process?

Yes. So much so that he gave me more than I dreamed of getting. For example, he heard me say that “I wanted enough space to fit all my books, space that would fit my needs and grow with me,” so he drilled holes every so many inches and gave me built-in book ends that make the space absolutely perfect!

Q. How do you feel about the finished space?

On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate it an 11!

Q.  Would you use Alpine Blue Home for custom furniture again, and/or would you recommend Alpine Blue Home for custom furniture?

We’ve turned to them again and again, and will continue to. They are great people who make quality products. They made a custom bench to fit below a window on the landing of a staircase for us. On another occasion, we told them we needed a step for our dog to be able to get up to the foot of our bed, and they made that fit our needs just right. We visited their shop and got a wine rack for our dining area that’s so beautiful it’s become a conversation piece! We can’t say enough good things about Alpine Blue Home.

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made. Colorado Style.

What is Live Edge Wood Furniture?

Live edge furniture is very popular right now.  You may have even heard about it from decorating shows or magazines.  But what exactly is live edge furniture?

Live edge furniture is simply furniture that some of the natural edge of the tree is left intact during building.  This gives the piece of furniture a natural, organic look. Live edge can be fairly modest and mild, or very dramatic.  

At Alpine Blue Home, we enjoy designing and building furniture pieces using the woods’ natural live edge.  This embraces our philosophy of making the wood the star of all of our designs. Many of our dining tables will have live edge on both of the outside edges.  We are currently building a table that will have four live edges, with two of the edges running down the middle of the table, leaving a very slight gap in the center.  Live edge can be used for dining tables, coffee and side tables, console tables, mirrors and beds.

Live edge wood furniture can be used in almost any decorating style.  We’ve created pieces that are being used in log cabins, as well as industrial style lofts.  Live edge combines well with metal, creating a fun juxtaposition of natural and industrial.

Please come in and talk to us about creating the perfect live edge furniture for you.

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made. Colorado Style

Maximalism with Beetle Kill Furniture

For years and years, minimalism has been in.  Well watch out, honey, maximalism is in, in a big way (pun intended).

Instead of less is more, the design world is now saying, “more is more”.  We are seeing strong, bold colors. Large scale prints. Metallics. Mixing patterns.  Displayed collections. More, more more…

However, if not tempered somewhat, more, more, more can become a big hot mess.  It’s important to use symmetry and balance when embracing maximalist design. Too much of anything, that’s not displayed correctly, becomes “visual noise”.  Or think of it as cheesecake, a little is great, but too much will make you feel sick.

A big, beautiful wood table, in front of a brightly painted wall, can be stunning.  Instead, of adding several smaller items or collections, try one large piece of art for the wall, and maybe one carefully selected piece for on top of the table.

And don’t think that you need to get rid of all the minimalist pieces that you love.  If you have a simple, minimalist table, try adding some dramatic, colorful glass on top of it.  Add a colorful frame to monochromatic art. Rub some funk on that minimalist stuff.

Colorado Wood. Colorado Made.  Colorado style.

Comfort with Custom Finished Furniture in Your Home

Our home should be our haven.  Our safe spot. Creative inspiration.  Healing place. It should be the place that we want to always return to.  It should be comfortable.

We are embracing many different ideologies of a comfortable home: Wabi-Sabi, Hygee, Cwitch, Kon Mari, and Lagom to name a few.  If you look at these different ideas they all seem to embrace the beauty of nature, and coziness.

Creating a home that feels comfortable for you may be different than what feels right to us.  However, some things are the same across the board. Use natural materials; wood, metal, glass, cotton, silk, and wools.  Look for products that are made without harmful chemicals. When we surround ourselves with natural items we feel grounded and experience less stress.   Picture a metal vase of cut flowers sitting on top of a natural wood table, in front of a window. You’ve created your own sense of nature. Remember the essential elements: earth, air, fire, and water.  

Part of comfort, for us, is having rooms and furniture that have functionality.  We’ve never been into museum rooms. Comfort is a dining table that friends and family gravitate to while visiting.  Maybe that same table can be moved to become an island or desk.

Whatever your definition is…give your self-permission to create your comfortable space.

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made. Colorado Style.

Small Space Living with Custom Wood Furniture

Sometimes, less is more.  Many of us are choosing to live in smaller spaces, or have rooms in our current homes that are small. However, decorating a small space can be challenging.  With a few simple tips, you can enjoy your small space lifestyle.

Don’t be timid.  Often, people with think that small spaces need to have light paint colors and small furniture and art.  This is a myth. Adding a gallery-sized piece of art can anchor a small room. Painting a deep, dark color can add drama and depth to the space.  One larger sofa can make a room live larger and look less cluttered than several small pieces.

Maximize your space and it’s function, by using double-duty furniture.  Pieces that have extra hidden storage are invaluable in a small space. A couch or day bed that can be used for a guest creates an instant guest bedroom.  

Invest in furniture that can be easily moved around to change up a space.  A dining table that can be pushed length-wise against a wall to become a desk and free up floor space, is great.  Think of furniture with casters or wheels. Not only do the wheels provide that fun industrial look to your home, it makes even a heavy piece of furniture, easy to move.

Look up.  Take furniture all the way to the ceiling.  A floor to ceiling bookcase, adds height, drama and extra storage space.  It will also visually make the room taller.

Don’t shy away from small spaces.  When decorated and furnished well, a small space feels comfortable and cozy.  

Colorado Wood. Colorado Made. Colorado Style.

How to Care for Your Finished Wood Furniture

We often have customers ask us how to care for their finished wood furniture.  They are timid and concerned about their new furniture, since most of our pieces are finished with water-based products.

Water-based stains and polys are actually very durable once they are cured.  In addition they have very low VOC’s. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound.  VOC’s are emitted as gases from certain liquids. VOC’s include a variety of chemicals and can have adverse health effects.  As part of our commitment to our environment, we greatly limit the use of products containing VOC’s. We have tried numerous products and use a line of products that provide a smooth, strong and attractive finish.

With any finished wood furniture, there are a few basic care tips:

1. Never leave standing liquids on the furniture.  Even with the best finish, a liquid that is left on wood will eventually penetrate the wood and can cause warping, discoloration, or rough up the wood.  Simply wipe up any spills, and it always helps to use coasters. It is not necessary to use table clothes or pads.

2. Most clean up requires a soft cloth dampened with water.  If you have a persistent spot, you can use a small amount of dish soap in warm water to clean.

3. If you don’t discover a liquid or food, until after damage has occurred, you will need to do a little repair.  We recommend a light sanding or buffing with 220 grit or higher sand paper. ALWAYS sand in the direction of the grain.  Remember, you can always sand more, but you can’t un-sand wood. Once the wood is smooth again, use a foam brush and lightly apply a poly.  Again, less is more. If it’s necessary to apply more than one coat, lightly buff between coats, once the poly is dry.

With normal use and care, it should not be necessary to re-finish your finished wood furniture.  If you decide to completely re-finish a piece of furniture, please consult with a furniture-finishing expert before you start the project.  

We hope these tips help you enjoy your finished wood furniture for years.

Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made. Colorado Style.

How do we define Colorado Style?

Colorado is many things.  Colorful. Majestic. Dramatic.  Casual. Dynamic. Crowded. Educated.  High tech. Fun. Authentic.

Colorado houses can be mansions, penthouses, condos, suburban homes, apartments, bungalows, and cottages.  Regardless of the size or price range of your house, it is home.

We believe that your home should make you happy.  It should be your haven from the everyday world. Your space should be comfortable, functional, fun, inspiring and relaxing.  It should be multi-purpose.

Your Colorado home should reflect your individual style and personality.  At Alpine Blue we strive to make each piece of furniture that we design and build reflect a respect for our environment, the wood used, and a Colorado Style.  We want our pieces to be used on a daily basis. We intend for our pieces to be able to be used in a number of different rooms and have different uses. Just like a great pair of jeans, we want our pieces to get better with age.  

We also feel that Colorado Style is an attitude.  We strive to be thoughtful, kind, creative and inspiring.  We try to add humor and fun in our daily life. Our goal is to leave our environment and the people that we come in contact with better than we found them.  

To us, that is Colorado Style.  Colorado wood. Colorado Made. Colorado Style.

Artisan Built - Luxury Colorado Home Furniture

An artisan is a person skilled in an applied art, or a craftsperson.  An artisan makes high quality or distinctive product in small quantities, usually by hand.  

As our world becomes faster and more technology driven… we crave artisanal products.  Something that is made in small batches, by hand, helps us to feel grounded. We also want to know the person that is making these products, and where and what they are made of.

Alpine Blue Home crafts each piece of artisanal furniture by hand, using only Colorado reclaimed wood.  We use thought when making our furniture so that it fits in your home. Many of our finishes are water based, low or no VOC.  

We like to meet with customers and talk to them about their home and lifestyle before we begin the design process.  We want you to feel comfortable using our furniture for yourself, your family and friends.

We consider ourselves artisans and craftspeople.  We strive to create beautiful functional furniture that you will enjoy for years.  Colorado Wood. Colorado Made. Colorado Style.

Urban Forestry and Benefits of Custom Furniture Woodworkers

Urban forestry is the care and management of single trees and tree populations in urban settings for the purpose of improving that environment.  Sometimes, that involves removing a tree that has died due to disease and/or storms.  By taking down the dead or diseased tree, the overall health and beauty of the environment is protected.

In the past, most trees that were brought down in urban environments were chopped into small pieces and mulched.  Fortunately, now there are many people that bring the trees down, and try to get as much usable lumber as possible out of each tree.

Alpine Blue Home enjoys working with a person that specializes in milling trees that come from urban and suburban communities.  This mill carefully and thoughtfully brings down the trees and makes the most out of their beautiful wood. 

Colorado does not have indigenous hardwood trees.  The hardwood trees that are in Colorado were intentionally planted.  Most of these hardwood trees are located in the suburbs and urban areas along the Front Range. 

By working with an urban forester, we are able to get gorgeous pieces of hardwood, while still buying local and using only Colorado wood.  We really enjoy working the unusual and spectacular wood that comes from these trees and turning them into lovely pieces of furniture and sculptural art.  In addition, we combine hardwood with beetle kill pine to create striking contrasts.

As a member of the Colorado Forest Products, Alpine Blue Home supports all forestry activities that help to increase the health of our Colorado forests.  Colorado Wood.  Colorado Made.  Colorado Style.