How much does live edge furniture cost?
How do you get an idea of what a live edge furniture piece will cost? First we'll explain a little about our process and what adds to costs. And we'll also give you exact numbers that you might expect to find for various types of live edge furniture or live edge tables.
When you invest in a custom live edge table, you're not just buying furniture - you're commissioning a piece of natural art that tells a story. Each of our pieces begins with a fallen Hudson Valley tree, carefully selected for its unique character, spalting patterns, and natural beauty that mass-produced furniture simply cannot replicate.
For the past five years, master woodworker Tom Christensen has transformed these fallen giants into heirloom-quality furniture, from grand dining tables that become family gathering places to distinctive side tables that spark conversations.
Unlike manufactured furniture that starts with standardized lumber, our process begins in the forest. Using an Alaskan mill, we personally cut and prepare each slab, preserving the tree's natural character while ensuring its strength and longevity through meticulous treatment and finishing processes.
Our clients typically invest between $200 for a handcrafted stump side table to $10,000 for an elaborate epoxy river dining table, with pricing determined by the rarity of the wood, size of the piece, and complexity of design. In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly what influences these costs, helping you understand the value behind each handcrafted piece.
Whether you're considering a statement dining table for your New York apartment or a custom bench for your Pennsylvania home, we believe in complete transparency about our pricing and process. Let's explore what goes into creating these one-of-a-kind pieces that blend modern aesthetics with natural beauty.
How pricing works for custom live edge furniture
The price of a custom live edge dining table can vary significantly depending on a few key factors: wood species, craftsmanship, design complexity, size, and any additional features like “epoxy river flows”. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
Entry-level
(Basic Design, Common Woods): $2,000–$4,000
- Wood: Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Locust
- Design: Simple shape with standard edge treatment, minimal detailing
- Finish: Basic oil or polyurethane finish
- Epoxy Work: Basic sealing may be included, but more elaborate epoxy flows (e.g., river table) would increase the cost.
Mid-range
(Premium Woods, Unique Design): $4,000–$7,500
- Wood: High-quality Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Locust
- Design: More intricate edge treatments, customized size, and base design
- Finish: Hand-rubbed finishes, special inlays or accents
- Epoxy Work: Simple epoxy flows or river table effects may be added at this price, typically ranging from $500–$1,500, depending on complexity and color choices.
High-end
(Rare Woods, Custom Features, Complex Craftsmanship): $7,500–$12,000+
- Wood: Figured Maple, Live Edge Red Oak, White Oak, Locust
- Design: Full custom shape (e.g., irregular shapes, organic curves), high-detail joinery, detailed inlays or accents
- Finish: Multiple stages of hand-finishing, including epoxy work or unique features like embedded objects
- Epoxy Work: Extensive river flows or custom epoxy inlays are typically included at this price level, with epoxy work ranging from $1,500–$5,000+ depending on the size of the table and complexity of the design. Colored epoxy pours, embedded elements like stones or metals, and intricate river designs elevate the price.
Why do prices of live edge furniture vary?
The variation in pricing for live edge furniture comes down to a few core factors:
- Wood Species & Quality: Some species, like “Burls”, “highly figured Maple” or “spalting”, are rarer and require more time and effort to source and work with. These woods, with their unique grain patterns, increase the overall cost.
- Craftsmanship and Labor: Handcrafting a live edge table is a labor-intensive process. The time spent selecting, shaping, sanding, finishing, and assembling the wood all contribute to the final price.
- Design Complexity: Custom designs, like intricate epoxy pours or unique base designs, require more time and expertise.
- Size & Dimensions: Larger tables or those with wider slabs demand more material and labor, which naturally increases the price.
Is live edge furniture worth the cost?
We'd say yes, for the following reasons:
1. Uniqueness:
Mass-produced furniture is everywhere – in homes, offices, and stores. It’s uniform, standard, and replaceable. Live edge tables, however, are entirely different. When you choose a custom live edge piece, you are investing in a one-of-a-kind table that has its own story to tell. Each table is crafted from hand-selected slabs of wood, and the design is influenced by the grain patterns, knots, and natural edges, ensuring that no two pieces will ever be the same.
2. Natural Beauty:
Live edge tables embrace the flaws and imperfections of the wood. The cracks, burls, and grain patterns that some might consider imperfections are what give each piece character and charm. These “flaws” are what make the
wood so beautiful and unique. In the case of more intricate designs, “epoxy river flows” are often used to highlight these imperfections, adding an extra layer of beauty. The smooth, reflective surface of the epoxy contrasts beautifully with the natural grain, creating a striking visual effect that is truly one of a kind.
3. Quality Craftsmanship:
Each live edge table is hand-crafted with great attention to detail. This isn’t mass production; it’s skilled craftsmanship. From the selection of the wood to the cutting, sanding, finishing, and assembling, every step is carefully done by hand. Joinery methods ensure a durable, long-lasting piece that will be a part of your family for generations. Each piece takes time to build but patience is always rewarding.
Why choose Hudson Valley Live Edge?
Some advantages of working with us is that we are near New York City and other large metro areas but "out in the sticks" enough to have access to reclaimed wood. So you have the confidence of knowing where your furniture is being made, and you don't have to worry about shipping your furniture piece halfway around the world.
At the same time, we've worked with everything from small-scale Brooklyn apartments to large homes in Westchester. We can customize to fit your life.
And we're a bespoke operation. No one else will have your piece of furniture - or anything even close to it.
Our custom live edge tables are not just furniture; they are heirloom-quality pieces that will last for generations. Each piece is designed and crafted to follow the natural beauty of the wood, embracing the unique features that make it special.
When you choose live edge furniture, you’re investing in something more than just a dining table – you’re bringing a piece of nature into your home. You’re choosing something that tells a story, one that is uniquely yours.
Get started today
Ready to elevate your space with a stunning, one-of-a-kind piece of furniture? Whether you're envisioning a smooth epoxy river table or a rustic live edge bench, we can help bring your vision to life.
Schedule a consultation today to explore the possibilities, and let’s create a custom live edge table that perfectly suits your style, home, and needs. Your table will be more than just a place to eat – it will be a statement of natural beauty and craftsmanship.
Contact
We are located in Orange and Ulster Counties, Hudson Valley, New York
© copyright 2024 // Hudson River Digital