Kelly Furniture

World renowned furniture designer John Kelly used American red oak in a new, custom design desk. Known for his clean, straight lines and his effective incorporation of wood’s natural characteristics into his designs, Mr. Kelly has had a long history designing with wood. He developed his approach to design during a time when questions were raised over the use hardwood, but his longstanding commitment to environmentally sound sources of wood has provided for both the longevity and commercial viability of his work. Drawing upon a resource that is growing instead of shrinking and marketing the subsequent intrinsic environmental value of his work, John Kelly has positioned himself at the forefront of sustainable design.

His decision to begin working with American red oak was inspired by both its sustainability and its commercial viability. According to Kelly,

This is my first time designing with red oak. I suppose that is because white oak is more associated with furniture making, primarily because it is also well known and abundant in Europe, and thus has a history as a hardwood species.

What currently makes red oak attractive is its wide abundance and, to be honest, its price. It’s properties and characteristics are also extremely well suited for furniture making, but, as I create designs that will be marketed for years to come, I like to use species that I know will be available in the long-term. American red oak is widely available and it dominates our forests, so it is an obvious choice for designers concerned about long-term sustainability and availability of their raw materials.

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