By Kelly Maxwell – Founder & Master Craftsman at Littlebranch Farm
With over 25 years of hands-on woodworking, Kelly Maxwell is a recognized authority in live edge timber recovery, air-drying stabilization, and rustic furniture engineering.
A natural wood coffee table will transform your space into a nature-inspired oasis. These unique rustic coffee tables feature salvaged live edge wood slabs, some with burl wood grain patterns and some without, but all are native to the USA. Each is crafted from select ethically sourced dead-standing trees, logs, and stumps on the forest floor. Wood species such as redwood burl, maple burl, and claro walnut are among the most popular. We hand-select the best natural wood slabs by working closely with select woodmongers, who actually cut the logs and roots into live edge wood slabs. Many clients ask us about the drying process. We believe drying wood long and slow is the best. The average is one year per inch of thickness, minimum, depending on the wood species. We use a 5-year minimum rule to allow the wood to stabilize or, as we say, become comfortable in its skin. Kiln drying has its place, but only after adequate air drying of dimensional construction lumber. Also, if you wish to kiln dry, we suggest a solar kiln.
Natural wood coffee tables
A Note on Wood Ethics: The Reality of Burl Theft
With the growth of the internet, we suggest asking simple questions. How are your wood slabs or material sourced? Because burl wood is rare and highly valuable, global black markets have seen a rise in illegal poaching and tree-girdling in national forests. At Littlebranch Farm, we stand firmly against these destructive practices. We verify every single timber source and work exclusively with certified wood salvage specialists to ensure all redwood, maple, and claro walnut slabs are legally and ethically salvaged from naturally fallen timber or dead-standing trees.
Another good question is, how long have you been in business? Also, how was the wood dried and stored? We believe in air drying over kiln drying. We believe it boils down to a relationship.
Live edge tables
Rustic coffee table
One-of-a-kind natural wood coffee tables showcase the wood’s organic grain patterns. Made famous by George Nakashima and his mid-century furniture designs, it is now finding new life as natural wood furniture. Natural wood coffee tables can have a live edge, but may also have clean lines. The organic movement of the live edge slab coffee tables, combined with a root base, calms the soul. The shining moments are the clean line, natural shape, and wood. Either way, the warmth and stability of real natural wood furniture shine through.
Natural wood furniture
This wood coffee table style is also called a rustic coffee table. Driftwood roots and stumps are the foundations of our rustic coffee table. Driftwood and tree stump bases highlight the natural live edge of the wood slab top. The organic movement and grayish-brown color tones define the space they reside in. Rustic is a loose term that can sometimes be considered raw or unfinished. At Littlebranch, we craft rustic elegance by finding the balance between nature and elegant natural wood furniture. We also have optional hand-forged metal bases. We use our blacksmith to forge, pound, and twist the metal to craft these bases. Because the metal heats up, each base will vary in color.
Live edge coffee table
In 2001, the live edge furniture series by custom furniture maker Kelly Maxwell started to form. It made perfect sense as tree slabs, or live edge wood was readily available. Our rustic style live edge furniture incorporates natural wood slabs. The live edge table is a part of this design.
Real wood furniture
Frequently Asked Questions
A live edge table preserves the tree slab’s natural outer shape just below the bark, highlighting its winding growth patterns. A rustic coffee table is a broader design category that uses raw, weathered, or organic elements such as driftwood roots, timber burls, or tree stumps as structural foundations. Many of our designs combine both elements for a refined, rustic look.
Solid wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in indoor humidity. However, structural warping and severe splitting typically happens due to improperly dried and seasoned natural wood slabs. Because we air-dry our salvaged wood slabs for 5 years or more, allowing the internal tension of our timber to fully stabilize. Mitigating the chance of major splitting or twisting in your home.
Caring for your natural wood coffee table is simple. For day-to-day cleaning, use a soft cloth lightly dampened with water to clean up spills. Avoid harsh chemical sprays, furniture polishes, or silicones, as they can break down our premium, hand-rubbed hardwax finish. During regular household cleaning, use our 100% natural wash care to remove stains and nourish the finish. Always use coasters under cups and avoid placing the table directly in front of active heating vents or fireplaces. These simple, common-sense steps will care for your coffee table.
A: As a premier national brand, we coordinate fully insured, ground, and freight shipping for all non-local deliveries. We offer, at a fee, white glove delivery and setup just ask and we will geta quote. We handle the heavy lifting so your centerpiece arrives in flawless condition.