Urban Hardwoods salvages trees from private homeowners, but they must be older hardwoods (not fir or cedar) and at least 30 inches in diameter at eye level. The company does not remove trees, and you must have a tree-removal service take it down. For more information, call Urban Hardwoods at 206-766-8199.

Where to buy

The following stores sell furniture pieces made by Urban Hardwoods.

Urban Hardwoods: 4755 Colorado Ave S., Seattle, 206-766-8199, www.urbanhardwoods.com.

Egbert’s: 2231 First Ave., Seattle, 206-728-5682. Read more »

When the massive elm tree outside Joan Murray’s Madison Park home came down with Dutch elm disease, Murray and husband Mark organized a wake so the neighborhood could mourn the leafy, 100-foot giant boasting 120 rings. (They counted.)

But Joan Murray didn’t have a plan for the tree’s afterlife — not until Jim Newsom showed up and proposed one.

Newsom owns Urban Hardwoods, a Seattle furniture company that does custom work and builds elegant tables and other pieces using mostly locally salvaged trees. Back in 2003, when Newsom explained his company to the Murrays, he asked for the elm, offering in exchange a custom-built table. The Murrays agreed. Their 4-foot round table now sits near a window overlooking the spot where the tree stood. The rest of the tree went to two homes on Orcas Island, while some lumber is still waiting to be made into tables.

“It’s like good karma,” Joan Murray said. “I love that we can sit at that table and remember the tree.” Read more »

Gayle Zalduondo is a sculptor, who became a hot furniture maker, who became a CEO.

So it’s no wonder she’s ready to try something bigger. After 20 years of running a boutique furniture company in Miami, Zalduondo is leaving her wholesale niche and opening a salon that’s sort of a hybrid version of a store and a think tank.

It’s a tricky endeavor, even Zalduondo admits. Her metal furniture has become ubiquitous, carried by Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Ethan Allen and other major retailers. She’s also been featured in The New York Times and twice won the top award from the American Society of Furniture Designers. But her company, Urbanus Inc., remains largely unknown outside the trade.

”The national furniture industry knows us, but nobody else does,” she said. “We were laughing the other day, saying we’re a start-up with 20 years of experience.” Read more »

The traditional materials for outside furniture have been teak and wrought iron for many years. Both are perfect for the elements — teak being the ideal wood, as it doesn’t rot, and wrought iron because it doesn’t rust.

During the past few years, a new material called Hularo has become the staple of high-end contemporary design for exterior furnishings. Hularo is a man-made, totally weatherproof fiber, but unlike other plastic fibers it contains no PVC, will not crack or fade and does not give off toxic fumes. One of my favorite brands is Dedon, which is available in most large cities. This Italian manufacturer has captured the essence of a new generation; its oversize, boxy sofas and low-slung seating are all very relaxed and clublike. The durable seating comes with washable cushions. Read more »

People looking for furniture can buy everything from beds to couches to mattresses and tables at one place — Furniture Row, along South Thompson Street in Springdale.

Furniture row now has a new kid on the block, My Furniture, My Way.

The Nickell family, owners of Factory Return Outlet in Rogers, opened My Furniture, My Way on May 14 at 1404 Chester Ave. in Springdale. It’s behind the Ashley Home Store.

Michelle Nickell said the location and timing for the building were perfect. Read more »

Ameriwood Furniture in Dowagiac, a division of Quebec-based Dorel Industries, will suspend manufacturing operations as of July 18.

The decision will cost 170 of the plant’s 215-member work force their jobs.

The announcement was made Thursday by Martin Schwartz, Dorel president and chief executive officer, at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Montreal.

A manufacturer of ready-to-assemble furniture, Ameriwood will remain open but only for distribution and some component production, said Katie Parmentier, Ameriwood’s director of marketing in Dowagiac. Read more »

Furniture Row® Companies are expanding their presence in Spokane with the construction of a new Furniture Row Shopping Center. The Center will contain four specialty furniture stores in one convenient location. The Center is located at 13410 E. Indiana Ave., just past the Evergreen exit and west of the Valley Mall. The store’s brands include Oak Express®, Bedroom Expressions®, Sofa Mart® and Denver Mattress Company®. The new Center will open Friday, May 25, 2007. Store hours are Mon-Sat 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sun 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

“The Center will bring a unique furniture shopping experience to the area,” said Bill McKendry, Marketing Director for Furniture Row® Companies. “Unlike other furnishings retailers, our centers have four specialty stores at one destination. Each store focuses on a particular category, and each store is managed and staffed with people who are extremely knowledgeable about their specific lines. And, best of all, they all guarantee their prices to be the lowest.” Read more »

High Point City Council will be asked to vote on a $200,000 incentives package May 24 as the city tries to lure the corporate headquarters of furniture manufacturer Home Meridian International.

The furniture company, formed by the merger of Pulaski Furniture, of Pulaski, Va., and Samuel Lawrence Furniture of Phoenix, is considering 20,000 square feet of space at the Premier Center office and industrial park in north High Point off NC 68, according to a press release distributed by the High Point Economic Development Corp. Thursday morning. Read more »

The Furniture First Board of Directors approved 9 new members/stockholders: Michael Moss of Bear’s Furniture, located in Franklin, Pennsylvania; Craig Reis of Best Furniture, located in Fort Thomas, KY; David Capperella of Capperella Furniture located in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania; Michael Davidson of Davidson’s Furniture, located in Hornell, New York; Randy Hansen of Hansen’s Furniture, located in Atwater, California; Patrick O’Connell of Henco, Furniture located in Selmer, Tennessee; Sam Jernigan III of Jernigan Furniture, located in Goldsboro, North Carolina; Joe Redeker of Redeker’s located in Boone, Iowa; and Paul Thompson of Susie’s Furniture, located in North Lewisburg, Ohio. The addition of these 9 members brings Furniture First up 135 stockholders with nearly 300 storefronts.

The Furniture First membership executed another group purchase representing an import bedroom at the most recent Spring 2007 High Point Market. Although the membership has been purchasing containers for years, this time their purchase targeted one specific group from Samuel Lawrence Furniture (SLF). Initial flooring purchases from the membership have resulted in an opening order of 20 plus containers of this bedroom suite, with two-thirds of the membership having placed their order. Read more »

Spacify Inc. the premier destination for contemporary online European furniture, launched a new collection of modern and trendy outdoor patio and deck furniture. The collection includes seating, tables, shade makers and other accessories.

Summers here and what is a better idea than to spend it outdoors? This new collection from Spacify Inc. ensures you do it in style, whether you’re spending a lazy afternoon with a book or entertaining guests on a lovely evening.

With pieces from major Italian brands like Emu, the collection includes elegant and luxurious designer pieces of outdoor furniture, from stylish metal patio chairs, wooden deck chairs to contemporary folding chairs, making it a great destination for discerning buyers to select from for different types of outdoor décor. Read more »