Our Algonquin Collection features book matched table tops. We love these table tops because they tell the tree’s story and remind us that the table was once an actual tree.
What is a Book Matched Table Top?
Let’s start with making sure we understand what we mean by a book matched table top. These table tops are each made with 2 slabs of wood that not only come from the same tree but were beside each other when the tree was a tree. So imagine taking these two slabs and opening them like a book. When you do this you end up with a symmetrical table top where a knot on one side is mirrored on the other.
Why We Love Book Matched Table Tops
We’ve been building live edge book matched table tops for a long time. Traditionally we have loved these table tops because they show off the ‘tree-ness’ of the wood, especially with the live edge. As a symmetrical table, it also means that the live edge is balanced which makes the tables really pleasing to the eye. As a bonus, by using 2 slabs rather than just 1, we could achieve larger widths.
Besides the resulting symmetry that we just highlighted, book matched tops tell the tree’s story. With these tops we keep the knots and imperfections - the details that remind us that this was an actual tree - and fill them with epoxy. These imperfections give the table top its character and make each one truly one of a kind.
So What’s New?
And then we realized that live edge book matched table tops didn’t tell the whole story. The live edge tops are definitely beautiful but not every space lends itself to one. Josh’s new house was one of those spaces and he really loves book matched tops. So we started to think out of the box a bit. What if book matched tops weren’t just made with walnut? Josh prefers oak - maybe other people do too. And what if they have a traditional square edge but still kept the other aspects of book matched tops like the symmetry, the imperfections, and the 10/4 thickness? Once we gave ourselves permission to ask these questions, it didn’t take long to also wonder about different shapes than rectangles. This is how Josh ended up with a book matched oak racetrack table. And it’s stunning!! Paired with wood Alta legs, (Josh’s table sits on oak legs to match the top) this broader definition of book matched tables became our Algonquin collection.
Our Algonquin collection embraces a broad definition of book matched table tops. It includes a range of hardwoods from walnut to oak, maple and ash. It includes live edge and Seymour (square) edge. It includes rectangular tables and oval tables. What they all have in common is that they are a solid 10/4 thick, celebrate the beauty of the natural wood and are each completely unique.
