Furniture and slab products – From recovery to creation

At MATPEL, we offer a large inventory of furniture and slab products. Our primary interest is creating furniture, and our entire urban tree recovery operation is geared towards this goal. But, early on, we discovered that the supply of available slices was disappointing, consisting of majestic trees from tropical forests, cut who knows how (though we have our suspicions) into dull, uninteresting pieces and standard thicknesses, poor quality species for woodworking.

In getting into urban forestry, MATPEL is making a difference for the environment by salvaging these “giants” destined for the wood chipper. We observe and study each slice to make the most of its essence in our furniture and SLAB products and discover its optimal and natural use in the ways of George Nakashima. Not every slice of a tree is meant to become a table.

“But one must work alone, building objects of wood. With a mendicant’s eye, a sadhu’s perception, a ragpicker’s sense, I poke my way through the valley of the fallen giants, finding here and there fragments which will be given a second life.” George Nakashima, The Soul of a Tree – a woodworker’s reflections.  

Make an appointment to come and choose a board and discuss your furniture and slab product projects with us. Discover the perfect harmony between your needs and what the tree has to offer.  We are open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. By appointment only.

We continue to offer custom services for your projects and can design, produce, sand, finish, and install your project. Our experience as custom master cabinetmakers will be of great help to you in making the most of these beautiful boards. 

Photo credit: Phil Bernard Photographe (for the great photos only, the remaining credit all goes to MATPEL!)