After working together in the early stages of the rediscovered wood movement, Seattle-based master craftsman Seth Meyer and designer John Wells joined forces to launch Meyer|Wells [www.meyerwells.com] in 2006. The goal of their venture: to combine a modern design sensibility and high level of furniture craft with an ecological ethic for sourcing their materials. The duo works to salvage and reclaim urban trees that are removed after storm damage, for development, or would otherwise be burned or discarded.

Their work begins with a tree in decline. Mature urban trees live long and sometimes difficult lives. The scars of urban life are perfectly recorded in the wood of each tree, awaiting the moment when at the end of the tree’s life, it’s story will be revealed. Inspired by the innate character and flaws imparted through the time a tree lives hunched over a power line or trimmed to avoid a residence, the craftsman and designer carefully select, mill and dry the lumber from local trees to highlight the features that only nature can create. Their elemental designs, paired with masterful craftsmanship, add a new chapter in the story of the tree’s life while delivering a functional work of art.

Sourced from the Northwest region and mainly from Seattle parks and neighborhoods, the pair work to highlight the unique story recorded in an urban trees’ life; “inspired by the innate character and flaws imparted through time, (they) carefully select, mill and dry the lumber from local trees to highlight the features that only nature can create.” The resulting furniture combines the striking, unique beauty of the natural wood with modern forms to create really functional art; the wide variety of materials they source allows each piece to be really thoughtful, inspired by whatever new material they’re using. They retail a line of furniture, but also do custom residential and commercial work — contact them through their website for more info. Below: “This Silver Maple lived a long and well-appreciated life in the military residential area of Seattle’s Discovery park. A large branch broke off the tree after a storm and rot made the tree unsafe.”