Custom Hardwood Furniture
When I first came to the Pacific North West in 1976 I was astonished by my first impression of the madrone tree. It has thin red bark that peels paper-thin revealing the next layer beneath which is fresh green in color.

It reminded me of eucalyptus, which also sheds its bark in a similar manner. But I had never seen madrone before and when I first saw the lumber I was thrilled. Madrone is very dense and hard, "short fibered" and polishes up to an ivory smooth finish.

At a furniture show once a man told me that the word madrone means lady's leg in an American Indian language. I have never been able to verify this but the tree limbs are curvy and sensual and it makes a good story.

I have made a lot of furniture out of madrone and I find it goes particularly well in combination with purple heart. The woods are different in type with purple heart having a very open grain while madrone is very dense but the color combination of the two together is quite striking as shown in the Tahoe Table or the round inlayed table and chairs shown below.

Custom Hardwood Furniture - Round Table and Chairs made of Madrone