When I first began posting projects that incorporated live edge lumber four or more years ago, I knew from my own client base that there was a growing attraction for furniture that displayed natural edges. It has been more than two years since I last posted and in that time the demand for those wavy edged boards has now brought live edge furniture into the mainstream. Now commercial manufacturers are producing live edge tables and hardwood sawmills are dedicating a greater portion of their inventory to live edge slabs and for good reason. Beautifully figured live edge slabs are bringing a much higher board foot price than conventionally milled lumber. I recently saw a figured bubinga slab at the Gilmer Lumber Company website going for $10,000. Locally my friend, Brandon Berdoll, at Berdoll Saw Mill does a brisk business selling his impressive live edge pecan and mesquite boards for thousands of dollars per slab.
Since designing and building this coffee table four years ago, creating live edge furniture has become a regular part of my workshop’s output. This is not so much by personal choice as it is by client demand.
Some more recent projects have been on a larger scale and allowed me the opportunity to create furniture with live edge slabs of exceptional size and figure. I will do posts devoted to individual pieces in the future but here is a preview of some of my work.
The top for this conference table is made up of two book matched Texas pecan slabs that together measure well over six feet in width (purchased at Berdoll Saw Mill).
And here is a view of the base for this table. Rather than design minimalist bases for these magnificent tops, I like to create bases that will elevate the entire piece above the “rustic” category.
Below is another large live edge table in Texas pecan. There is a very interesting story behind the wood used in this table but I will save it for another post.
The base for this table is very organic and sculptural. The top almost seems to be growing out of the base.
This last piece presents a very sharp contrast between the gnarly live edge mesquite top and a nicely detailed, sophisticated base in sipo mahogany and bird’s eye maple. This is a writing desk and I really like the juxtaposition of this top with this base.
I made this for a client’s home office and will devote an individual post to this piece in the future.
I welcome your comments. Please visit my website to see more of my work.
Louis Fry / A Furniture Maker's Blog 
Hello Louis
We just read your blog. The table is fantastically built, but we don’t like the look of it we would like to see more of a modern table. But everyone has his own taste of course. We are woodworkers ourselves and are currently studying at HMC to become cabin makers. So we really can see it is very well built, but it is just not our taste.
Greetings, from your mates from Holland: Bruce and Marco
Greetings to my friends Bruce and Marco,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about my table. I completely understand that this design is not in your favorite style. It would be a boring world if we all liked exactly the same things. As a furniture designer I am interested in exploring new shapes and forms. Usually people like my designs but sometimes they don’t. It is impossible to please everyone, but I think it is important to try new designs. After all, do we want to stay in the modern style for the rest of human history? I wish you great success in your studies!
Louis Fry
Hi Louis,
We took a look at your blog and we find the before last table top looks very interesting!
We would like to know how you made this table top, for example is it made of one piece or are they multiple parts? What did you use for the finish of the table?
Kind regards,
Cristiano and Martien
Hello Cristiano & Martien,
Thank you for commenting on my furniture. I hope I understand which table you are asking about. The table top in the next to last picture is made up of one large piece of wood from a mesquite tree. Mesquite trees grow in the southwestern part of the United States and in Mexico. Cracks and holes in this top have been filled with polished stones of turquoise and peridot suspended in clear fiberglass resin. All the best to you.
Louis Fry