Solid, honest materials provide the foundation for all of our work.  Everything we use is sourced in the USA as locally as possible.

For a detailed look at our seats, check our our Seats page.

Hardwoods

Our standard hardwood options are American Black Walnut and Maple, both natives of the Midwest. Our finishing is thoughtful and minimal, designed to accentuate the natural beauty of these species without overpowering them. All work is done by hand, with care taken to each individual piece's unique character.

American Black Walnut

After being finely sanded, our walnut is hand-rubbed with an oil finish. Three coats are applied over a 72 hour period giving it a warm, rich luster. Finally, a coat of wax is applied and buffed by hand to give it a smooth sheen and an extra layer of protection.

Maple

Our maple is clear coated with a water-based polyurethane chosen specifically for its high clarity. Our low-sheen finish seals and helps protect surfaces, while highlighting the natural beauty of the material. A final coat of wax is applied and buffed by hand to giving it a smooth sheen and an extra layer of protection.

Concrete

We use glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). The glass fibers added significantly increase the structural integrity of the concrete.

Our concrete colors are created by adding pigment during the casting process; they are not painted, and the colors can't be "worn off".  Slight fading may occur over the years, although it's minimal.

It's important to understand that concrete casting is a process that naturally introduces variation into each seat. We've cast thousands of seats and have formal processes in place to minimize this variation, but we do intentionally include a bit of variation in tone, shade, and color in each batch.  They are hallmarks of the material process, and one of the many reasons we love concrete.

All concrete seats are first finished with a penetrating sealer to minimize absorption from spills or friction throughout their use. Next, they are hand-sealed with a natural wax to add a beautiful luster and provide an additional layer of protection from the elements.

Steel

We use cold-rolled steel.  All round stock (like our Coleman Stool's frame) is solid, not hollow tube.

Black Powder Coat

Our black powder coat is an untextured black with little gloss.

White Powder Coat

Our white powder coat is an untextured white with little gloss.

Natural (Clear Coat)

We clean up raw cold rolled steel and apply a clear coat for our "natural" finish. Although we homogenize the finish a bit, we make an effort to maintain a bit of an "industrial chic" feel.