Ralph Gorham has been crafting tables in Red Hook, Brooklyn for years. The one time general contractor started out using common and exotic woods, but soon became aware of all the beautiful antique wood that was being discarded during demolition of old buildings in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.

The reclaimed wood is mainly from the beams of these old buildings. Species range from Douglas Fir to Long Leaf Heart Pine. Since salvage and sustainable building have become more popular, the beams are harder to come by. Once the wood is acquired, there is much preparation before building the tables. All nails (as many as oh, maybe…500!), bolts and lead paint must be removed before remilling. The boards are then aligned to make symmetrical patterns of the wood’s knots and grain.

A basic farm table, finished in tung oil, starts at $400 per linear foot, which translates to a few thousand for a table. Each peice is a one of a kind heirloom that weighs 300-400 pounds. There are a number of tables in stock. Custom tables, counter tops or cabinets can be ordered. Everything is 100% recycled. Even the scraps get used for smaller projects.

Brooklyn Farm Table

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