Right before the pandemic began, Jonathan Lehman and his wife, Sharon, had the idea to turn their hobby into a full-time job. That is how Live Edge Venture began.
When the business began, they worked primarily with walnut trees that they would cut down and turn into slabs. Walnut typically has a multitude of patterns, different depths of color, and a wide diameter to work with. This makes it ideal for creating many shapes and sizes of live-edge pieces.
Lehman explains how his customers often choose a tree from a family property, or even from their own backyard, that is already dying and needs to be removed. Rather than doing away with the wood, Lehman sees a potential work of art in front of him. However, if they do not have a particular tree of their own, the business has many options and sizes to choose from.
The process begins with Lehman meeting with the customer and figuring out what they are envisioning. Many times he will suggest that a customer use a tree that is special to them, from their yard. Perhaps it could be an old tree that the owners and their children grew up swinging on, or it could be a tree that their grandparents planted and now is fully mature but needs to be removed.
“This is one of the most special parts of the process for me, to bring the history and memories of the tree into their home,” says Lehman.
Once the tree is chosen, the staff can get to work by cutting it down. This is no easy task, as some of these trees are old and rather large. Once the tree is cut down, Lehman is able to get a better look at the knots and unique grooves of the tree that will give it a one-of-a-kind appearance.
The slabs are then brought back to his shop to be kiln-dried. This starts with a standard air drying method, where the natural airflow allows moisture to escape from the slabs. The time this takes can vary depending on the type of wood and the thickness of the slab. Next, it is dried in a kiln. This allows the wood to dry faster and more evenly than a typical air drying process. It also helps to control elements like steam levels, humidity and temperature.
When they reach the desired result, Lehman and his team are ready for the fun part. This is when he will pick out sections of the slabs for the customer’s desired project. If the customer does not know what they want to do with the wood, Lehman can suggest popular pieces such as nightstands, side tables, coffee tables, benches, chairs, wall art and even full-size dining room tables. Have an idea that he does not mention? Go ahead and ask. Lehman is always looking for a challenge.
Once the slab is chosen, the team is able to fill it with virtually any color of resin or epoxy to turn an old piece of wood into a true piece of art. Right now, Lehman says different shades of blue are an especially popular color option. For example, if you are creating a table you can fill the knots and grooves with a blue epoxy that gives a beautiful, river-like appearance.
The options are virtually limitless when it comes to epoxy colors and designs. The company team members love hearing what customers have in mind, then bringing their vision to life. Besides the ever-popular aquas and blues, epoxy options come in shades of lavender, clear, pink, orange, purple, green, yellow and more. Whether you are looking to match your current decor in your home or add a color that stands out, Live Edge is able to hook you up.
You can watch videos online and browse images for inspiration. However, there is no better way to see and feel the true product than to visit their showroom, which is open to the public. They recommend that you call ahead of time if possible, as they may be tied down with another project. Lehman is dedicated to educating his customers on the process and options when it comes to live-edge pieces, and wants to take the time to explain this to each individual.
