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There's nothing wrong with logging.

And for the record, using "already downed or buried" trees is not "green".

Those downed and buried trees serve a vital role as the decompose they become food and shelter for lots and lots of tiny critters vital to a healthy ecosystem.

So let's all get off the "cutting trees is automatically bad" bandwagon. Puhlease!

Fancy Pants?!

I'm not finding any sort of price range anywhere - where am I missing it?

Keith is totally right, and it's SO refreshing to hear someone say it. "Downed tree" harvesting is just a whole lot of spin. Downed trees are just as vital (if not more so) to the ecosystem as those still standing and growing. With the whole "green" trend going on, a lot of companies who are claiming they are green are often misguided or spinning a bunch of bull. That being said, there are responsible ways to log and irresponsible ways to log.

Becky

What the two posters have said before me is completely correct. It is possible to log responsibly (though it is a rare occurance). On the same note, if we use downed trees irresponsibly (the way we usually log) it is a huge detriment to the forests ecosystem. It depresses me to think about all the companies who proffess to be "green," yet are in some way harming the environment or doing something else that is equally horrible. How, as someone tring to be a responsible world citizen, do you sort through the quagmire and still remain a part of this capitalisic society without going crazy with guilt? Any thing I do has some kind of negative effect on something else. Whether it is buying a "green" table, using organic cotton clothing, or tuning on my computer. I cannot grow all my own organic food or raise my own sheep, card their wool, and make my own clothing, ext. I don't have the time, nor the desire, yet i still would like to leave as little a footprint as possible. What are we supposed to do?

I guess I'm ranting

Can any wood designer be truly green in this day and age and still provide the product people want? At least these fallen trees aren't being used as flooring. I think the table tops look beautiful.

There's nothing wrong with wood products or flooring.

It's all about sustainability.

Trees can be managed as any other crop.

Would anyone like to comment on the aesthetics of the tables or has this site gotten to the point where people don't do that anymore?

Is everybody working at a hedge fund, or is the concept of affordable totally escaping everybody but me.

Sharon, we absolutely do and it is my fault for slanting the post so heavily in the eco direction as it seems to have thrown people off the scent.

I would love to hear more opinions on Madara from those who know them and on the slab designs as well.

I checked out the website. The pieces are nice. The woods are as good as you can get in the US, but nowhere close to the best reserved for locals in South Amer. or SE Asia. But I don't think they've married the bases to the top well. On some it just looks like they used pipes. Downright amaturish.

Have to agree with the last comment -- George Nakashima must be rolling in his grave.

I agree with sam and anon. The problem is how to integrate the metal bases with the organic shapes and grains of the woods--the contrast here is rather harsh. Small scale steel fabrication greatly limits the possibilities. When you try to get "different" or "creative" you often end up with what looks like rather awkward display stands for a big slab of wood.

The most successful design here is the basic cube made of square bar, with the somewhat squared wood tops. Although it's of course nothing new or earthshattering, sometimes it's best not to reinvent the wheel. More interesting would be using metal forms that echo the organic free-form shapes of the tops, or at least that don't look like straight stock. It could be done by building volumetric shapes from cut steel plate, or casting the forms, although the latter would require foundry equipment and a whole nuther ball game.

Does anyone have any links to how-to's on making these wood slab dining tables?

The look is a simple matter of opinion, mine is that the design is clean, minimalist. I bought a Madara piece last year and it made my home.

I love the contrast of the simple metal lines and natural wood. If only I had room for a huge dining table! One day...

Can someone give us a rough idea on prices (e.g., how much would a dining table cost)?

I second the opinion above on the smooth design. I too purchased a table from Madara and it adds such positive energy to my home. I've seen similar work in some NY showrooms but for much more than they charge...

the prices range depending on the size, thickness, perfection of the wood slab, rarity of the wood and custom base design.
Its best to contact Madara directly

If you google "wood flitch" you can find prices on these slabs around the country from lumber yards. Flitch is the term used to describe wood cut into slices lengthwise. They start at a couple hundred dollars. I got lucky and found someone in my city who takes dead or felled trees away from people's properties, then mills them himself. They win, because he removes the tree for free, and he wins, because he gets all kinds of unusual wood, like fruit walnut and sycamore.

I own a couple of pieces from Madara Design and am absolutely fascinated with the clean yet sophisticated touch they have added to my home! Also, they do custom work and were able to design pieces that fit perfectly with what I was looking for!

I must disagree with sam and anon-- Nakashima would have loved the respect for the organic in these Madara pieces- and the nature that they bring into a home. I have a Madara dining table in my apartment, and the strong, metal bases (which are smooth, well-positioned/ designed and decidedly un-amaturish) give solid grounding-- and marry an urban industrialism (in some cases) to the flow of the wood.
I know Madara also custom creates a large portion of it's pieces for it's clients-- so quite often the bases are the vision and commission of the client. In my dealings with Madara, I've found them to be creatively cutting edge, aesthetically -sound, fairly-priced, home-grown, and extremely accommodating.
Regarding 'green products'-- who amoung us isn't pulling major wattage off of the grid (which is fossil-fueled) to write our bloggings, meander the web, e-shop/browse and see in the dark? Those in glass houses....Madara rates very high on the verdant-scale....finding morsels left from natures' cycle and bringing that nature carefully, respectfully and intimately into our lives....