In the world of furniture retail, it may seem hard to come by products that will not only last but also coincide with the green conscience. But there is, in fact, an abundance of locally-sourced and sustainable furniture in the Hudson Valley and New York metro region. Many local woodworkers create beautiful works of art with supplies that would otherwise be thrown into landfills or left to rot on the forest floor.

Robert Staab of Campbell Hall runs a business called After the Barn, where he and his son make furniture out of wood from old barns that would otherwise be demolished. “You don’t want to see the barns go into a heap or a pile and be buried,” Staab says. “So we give [them] a new life.”

Staab, who will soon be opening a second showroom in Yorktown, not only uses the wood, but also some of the nails and hardware from the barn. “We try to recycle the whole thing,” he says, which sometimes involves taking trailer loads of scrap to his yard.

Staab’s furniture is often made with rare woods, such as chestnut, which has been commercially unavailable for decades due to blight in the mid 20th century. “Most of the wood that we reclaim is anywhere from 90 to 200 years old,” he says. In addition, Staab says, a tree would be at least 100-150 years old to produce the wood used for a barn, so some of his materials may be up to 350 years old, which makes for a very unique product.

“The guy who leads my shop, his father’s been in it for 25 to 30 years,” Staab explains. “So we took his lead by making farm tables using really extraordinary construction techniques.”

Some other furniture makers also use timber from old buildings. Joseph Foglia, who owns a shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, uses beams that are cast aside during demolitions. “[I’ve been] reclaiming these very New York City-specific timbers; beams that are specific to New York City buildings,” he explains. “People have taken a liking to them.”

Foglia also uses the timber from demolition projects to build homes and cabins upstate. “[I] try to find a project before it’s ripped apart, and make a deal with the contractor to come take it out myself,” he says. Like Staab, Foglia enjoys the fact that some of the wood he uses is hundreds of years old. “[We’ve pulled] beams out of a belt buckle factory built in the 1860s.”

And demolition sites aren’t the only source for artists who use reclaimed materials. Steve Heller, owner of Fabulous Furniture, uses “big, old, ugly trees that have diseases or defects that no one wants.” By doing this, he provides a service for nearby homeowners—many come to him to take away their fallen trees. “I get a lot of trees after storms, trees that blow down,” he says. “Mostly everyone is thrilled to give me the tree and get rid of it.”

Heller has been at his store for 37 years, and while business has had its ups and downs, he says it’s been doing “really, really good.” And throughout these 37 years, he’s always used local wood for his projects. “I’m appalled sometimes about 1,000 acres of rainforest disappearing every year because people want to buy some crazy South American wood to put outside on their deck,” he says. “There’s plenty of black walnut and cherry and real fancy, cool wood here that is certainly underutilized.”

Another artist who uses locally reclaimed materials for his artwork is Kieran Kinsella of Kingston. “The wood I use is all locally salvaged directly from the forest or from local tree services,” he explains. “These are trees that are taken down because they are dead or dying, or pose a threat to a home or road.”

Kinsella also makes arrangements with locals who are trying to get rid of trees. “I have worked with clients who have had to have trees removed that were growing too close to their home[s],” he says. “And rather than have a tree service cart it away, we were able to build at least six tables and benches from the trunk.”

“Here in the Northeast we have such a wealth of beautiful wood close at hand that can be harvested sustainably,” says Kinsella. “I am always surprised more furniture makers do not take advantage of this.”

Some furniture makers don’t make furniture for furniture’s sake, however—for some, it’s about the art. Andrew Hunter of Gardiner uses furniture as an outlet for his artistic vision, incorporating Asian-styled elements into his work. “This Chinese furniture from the Ming Dynasty 400 years ago is the apex, I think, of furniture making,” he explains. “They’re built with integrity and built simply—not flashiness to sell right away, not shininess to sell right away, but simple.”

Hunter, however, has been facing harsh times in the economic downturn. “I build less than 10 pieces a year, and I generally spend more than a month on a piece,” he says. Regardless, he still has shows in which he displays his work. “People see my work and either commission a piece or buy a piece off the showroom floor. Whatever effort I put in is whatever I can get out.”

Despite the economic downturn, local furniture makers continue their craft. Palo Samko, a woodworker from former Czechoslovakia who works in Brooklyn and High Falls, uses reclaimed materials from construction sites to make works of art. Palo began woodworking at a very early age, inspired by his father’s work as a house builder.

Many of his pieces are laden with intricate details. For example, Samko incorporates bird shapes into some of his mobiles and tables. “I love birds and the freedom of flying—to me it was always a dream,” explains Samko. “I was using the band saw and one of the pieces left on the floor looked like a silhouette of a bird, so I shaped it and decided to bring it to my son.”

Some of his pieces incorporate random knick-knacks, like his Constellation dining table, in which he incorporates watch gears. “I collect old junk—everything that I find at antique stores or garage sales. I have big collections of old objects,” he explains. “I had about 100 different watch gears, and they were lying in a box, and one day I said, ‘I have to do a project with those gears.’”

“It’s a lot of work,” says Samko, “But on the other hand, it pays off.”

Despite their differing styles, and despite financial hardships, these artists share their dedication to quality and meticulous technique. As Kinsella explains, “One thing we share in common is a commitment to craftsmanship. Building a long lasting piece of furniture that can be passed down for generations goes a long way in reducing material consumption.”

He continues, “In that respect you could say we all have a commitment to sustainability, building future heirlooms in this increasingly throwaway world.”

Resource List Local Wood Workers

Ed Felton, New Paltz. (845) 806-5867. enthousia@gmail.com

Josh Finn, High Falls. (845) 687-8805. joshfinnfurniture.com

Joseph Foglia, Brooklyn. (917) 687-4033; (718) 599-3005. josephfogliadesigns.com

Mark Granfors, Wallkill. (845) 489-2050. laughinglooncustomfurniture.com

Rob Hare, Rifton. (845) 658-3584. robhare-furnituremaker.com

Steve Heller, Boiceville. (845) 657-6317. fabulousfurnitureon28.com

Andrew Hunter, Gardiner. (845) 255-0651. andrewhunterart.com

Jeff Johnson, Poughkeepsie. jeffjohnsonstudio.com

Anissa Kapsales, Rosendale. anissakapsales.com

Kieran Kinsella, Kingston. kieranwoodworks.com

Michael McClatchy, Accord. michaelmcclatchy.com

Johnny Poux, Kingston. (845) 340-9088. johnnypouxdesign.com

Michael Puryear, Shokan. michaelpuryear.com

Palo Samko, High Falls/Brooklyn. (718) 744-8898. palosamko.com

Nicholas Simile, Rosendale. (845) 658-3662. nicholassimile.com

Robert Staab, Campbell Hall. (845) 625-6639. afterthebarn.com

Ezra Waltermaurer, Kingston. (845) 340-0301. littlefishfurniture.com