There's something appealing about the Willow Cube from Urban Tree Salvage. Although it's just a big chunk of a tree, it's modern, organic, tactile. It's so simple yet so beautiful.
The Toronto-based company saves wood from city trees that are removed and destined for landfills. They then treat them and create contemporary furniture, flooring, and hardwood lumber from the fine quality wood that would otherwise end up being wasted. Founder and designer Sean Gorham creates furniture that allows the beauty of this recovered wood to speak for itself.
The cubes, made of solid willow, are available in dimensions ranging from 13"-16"; weights range from 48-90 pounds. They're sold as side tables at Vivavi. Prices start at $600.
$600 for a block of wood that was Goodwill'ed? You have got to be kidding. It's crap like this that gives good design a bad name.