How it began
Saltwood Furniture Company was born in April of 2017. The name refers to the use of wood from pickle tanks that becomes “salty” from the brine used in the tanks. This wood must be joined together without the use of metal fasteners, which would otherwise rust over time. We have been in the process of coming into our own since 1991 when owner Clancy Ward began his apprenticeship in Northern California building Japanese inspired structures and furniture at Joinery Structures. The company was an early proponent in the use of reclaimed lumber for its structures. This influenced future design and process for him over the years as he remodeled old houses in Portland, OR, designed and built straw bale timber framed houses in NW Wisconsin, and worked as a furniture maker at Duluth Timber Company.
Currently located in Duluth, MN, Saltwood Furniture Company provides custom furniture design and build services using reclaimed lumber from old buildings and salvaged wood tanks, heirloom wood, and/or sustainable hardwood from local sources. Previous clients include Duluth Grill, OMC, Bent Paddle Brewing, and Lake Avenue Cafe, as well as residential clients. We prefer to have history be a part of every project, such as heirloom wood from an old piece of furniture or a family wood stash the customer would like to use for a project. Reclaiming these materials to make new, usable items is an important part of a sustainable lifestyle in every home and we can help with this transformation to continue the story. Check out the galleries and see if what you want fits into what we do!
Where we are now
In 2023 We were evicted from our shop location and given a month to find a new place and move everything out. Luckily, a good space became available pretty much right when we began looking (funny how that works sometimes?!). It’s been about a year since the move and we are just settling in to the new digs in the basement of Gene’s Auto Body. There is still much to do, but we are making furniture and repairs are back!
Feel free to stop by for a tour anytime, but be sure to call first.
Testimonial
“Clancy’s artistic style and workmanship with the use of wood is exemplary!! We had wood from the family farm In Michigan which he made into heirloom pieces for us. What he created was one of a kind, custom pieces, bringing out the natural beauty of the wood with his simplistic but powerful designs. The metamorphosis from slabs of wood to a piece of art easily became the focal piece of each room. It helped create feelings of warmth with our families and friends. Anything made by Clancy is guaranteed to be treasures for life!!”
— Customer
“Clancy Ward is the real deal Artisan Wood Worker. Imaginative & creative while still allowing the wood to tell its own story. Stop by the Bent Paddle Brewing Co. Taproom and see some of his work first hand. It’s literally everywhere”
—Pepin Young, Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
This Site
Website design and layout was done by Michelle Bennett at Wolfskull Creative. All the photos, with a few exceptions were taken by Wolfskull Creative and Rolf Hagberg.
You can view their work here:
Let’s Build something together.
Get in touch to set up a consultation for your custom project.