Go Big or Go Home

Designer Garrett Cheyne of Curate is known for pushing boundaries both in scale and dramatic impact.
We’ve worked together before, so he knows the expertise of the Heritage team and called us specifically to bring a reclaimed-wood project to life. 

The vision certainly was grand: Build the largest table possible from the most character-rich beams available. To paraphrase Garrett, How big of a table can you guys make?

The answer was very, very big. When all said and done, the solid oak table measured 17 feet long and weighed 2,500 pounds. It turned out to be incredible, but it wasn’t easy.

“There’s a lot of effort involved in getting things to look very simple.” –Emily Krauklis

The sheer size and weight of the materials proved to be challenging from the get-go. For instance:

• How would we move the impossibly heavy materials around the shop?

• How would we join the massive beams together without gaps? 

• How would we deliver the finished project to the home? 

• Was the floor strong enough to hold such a heavy item?

• If so, how would we install the table without destroying the finish on the floors?

Clearly, we worked out all the large and small details. And, per usual, we didn’t act alone. 

In the shop, we built special carts on wheels to move the materials around. This was critical because nothing could be moved by hand.

We used specialized beam saws to make precise cuts on the massive timbers. Joining the beams together required a complex process, but our outstanding crew made the connections seamless. They fabricated heavy-duty steel brackets to add structural support, as well. 

Speaking of support, we consulted with a structural engineer to make sure we didn’t exceed the floor load capacity in the great room where the table would be placed.

“You could see pieces similar to this and think, ‘Oh, it’s just a beam,’ but the effort to make them come together companionably is immense.” – Emily Krauklis

Throughout the project, we worked closely with the team at Curate to make necessary tweaks to the design. For example, early on, we decided to use two timbers rather than three, saving more than a thousand pounds of weight. 

We also enlisted the help from some friends, including John Heusser of Heusser Heavy Haulers. An expert in moving enormous and heavy items (like houses), John had all the equipment and expertise to safely transport the table to its final destination… And then move it again!

Install with Care — And Good Humor

Typically, the “heavy lifting” for furniture projects occurs mostly in the shop. By the time we’re ready to deliver and install them, we’re nearing the end. The hard part is over. 

Not so with this table. At the home, it took another massive team effort to get this Heritage piece into place:

• Protect the floors

• Remove the front door

• Navigate a 2” clearance on either side of the doorframe

We knew that even a slight misstep during transport could crush the gorgeous custom door frame and finishes. The entire team was very careful to protect the rest of the home while the table was being moved in. You can imagine the mood of the room when the table was finally put into place – success!

But then Garrett asked one more simple question: 

What would it look like to turn it around?