heritage-beam-and-board

Choosing the Perfect Reclaimed Wood Conference Table

angie@heritagebeamandboard.com (Angie Curran) — Tue, 27 May 2025 23:52:38 GMT

Design a custom conference table for your office, studio, or home

Happiness is not a matter of intensity
but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony — like a well-set table.

Thomas Merton

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One question that’ll catch us by surprise is, “Does Heritage do conference tables?”

Because of course we do! Love to build them, in fact. Not only are they fun to create, we’re uniquely set up to offer our clients the best possible experience from their vision to installation.

Before we get started, we’ll need to know a few details to ensure your table is not just beautiful and functional, but can also be safely delivered into its intended space.

Consider these Questions when Designing your Reclaimed Wood Conference Table:

What is the space like where the table will be placed? What’s the vibe?
How will people flow around the table and through the room?
How will the table be used?
For example, will you need power down the middle?
How many people will need to fit around it?
What kind of finishes are you looking for?

Answers to these questions will help inform the size and design, and also give us an idea about what materials to use.

For clients who want a very smooth surface for writing, we’ll do some extra planing and sanding to even out the surface of the table. Others might love the more rustic look and character that comes with wooden boards from the 1800s. No matter your preference, we can make it happen.

Where is the Table Going to Live?

Once we have a good idea about how you plan to use the conference table, we’ll chart a detailed path for how exactly the table will get delivered and installed. For instance, delivering through a first-floor patio door into a meeting room is very different from a second floor walk-up, which is different still from a 12th floor office with a freight elevator.

As part of the design process, we’ll also consider if the conference table needs to be built in sections and assembled on site, or if it can be built and delivered in one piece. We talk through all these details so we make sure we’re building the conference table exactly how you need and want it.

“We had a project where the table was so large, it came in separate pieces and took six people to deliver.” – Seth Hanson

How do We Work?

Here is a brief overview of the process you can expect:

Meet with us to discuss goals, room dimensions, and user needs.
Choose materials and finishes.
Design & engineer your reclaimed wood conference table.
Craft & finish if for structural integrity and visual impact.
Deliver & install your table safely and seamlessly.

We’ll be in regular communication throughout the process to ensure you’re kept up to date and in the loop. See the full map of our process.

Who We Serve

Over the years, we have proudly partnered with businesses looking to furnish executive boardrooms and collaborative spaces. We’ve worked with artists and creative studios , building tables with unique finishes that spark creativity and curiosity. Restaurants have hired us to build large, communal tables for their patrons to enjoy. And, event spaces that host conferences, community events, and weddings appreciate our custom-built long, dramatic tables.

Speaking of Weddings...

We recently built an heirloom table for a couple who moved it into their home after they said “I do”. Wedding tables offer couples a unique opportunity to kickstart a lifetime of memories made around the table.

We are in the process of planning a registry system, which would allow guests to contribute toward the table as a wedding gift.

Make Sure your Conference Table is a Perfect Fit

When you choose Heritage Beam & Board to build your custom reclaimed wood conference table, you’re partnering with a company that has an abundant supply of materials, decades of experience, and a genuine care for the next “life” of the reclaimed wood.

We would love to bring your next project to life.

Our Portfolios

How Much Does a Custom Table Cost?

Wed, 07 May 2025 21:51:05 GMT

Beyond the Price Tag: The True Value of a Heritage Table

In a world filled with mass-produced furniture, you might wonder what a custom Heritage table costs in comparison. It’s absolutely a valid question, although unfortunately, there’s no chart that says “these dimensions made with ABC material equals $X.”

This is because Heritage tables are more than a flat surface to gather around. They’re a work of art – each piece with its own unique story, color tones, wood grain, and character. Every table we build is crafted with a level of passion and attention to detail that mass production can’t replicate.

"We could build the same design five times, and they're all going to have their own unique flavor. They may be the same design, same dimensions, same everything—except they'll all be one of a kind because of the materials themselves."
Seth Hanson, Owner / Partner

This "one-of-a-kind" promise lies at the heart of what sets Heritage apart. We don't just source lumber; we meticulously reclaim it and give new life to timbers with a history all their own. With that said, the majority of our tables range from $6,000 - $18,000+. Read on to learn what goes into creating a custom reclaimed wood table and factors that impact the cost.

Old Growth vs New Growth – A Story of Quality

Heritage tables are built with old growth wood that’s been reclaimed from historic barns and buildings. This makes our tables both environmentally friendly and custom.

Why is old growth wood so much better? Trees that were logged in the early 20th century grew slowly, withstanding the elements over the course of decades or even centuries. The trees were battle tested through harsh winters, storms, droughts, insects, even fires. They grew naturally – so they didn’t grow as much each year as modern pine forests, for example. Their tight wood grain is evidence of their slower growth rate.

“New” wood grows fast and is simply not as stressed or weather-tested as old-growth wood. Time affects the strength, character, and quality of the wood. As Seth explains,

"A stud today may be all twisty. A stud from 100 years ago is probably still going to be solid, straight, and strong."

The inherent superiority of old-growth wood translates into tables with exceptional durability and beauty that deepens with time. So, when you’re considering the cost of a wood table, it’s important to factor in the high quality materials that will last for generations.

Our Case Studies

How We Build Custom Tables

We strive to be completely transparent throughout the design and building process. You, the client, are an integral part of bringing your vision to life and can expect the following steps:

During the initial consultation, we discuss your inspiration and ideas.
Once we have a good understanding of your goals and vision, we move into the design phase and select the materials.
We provide detailed renderings for your approval, followed by a clear DocuSign confirmation.
Upon design completion we update the estimate with any adds or omissions for sign off prior to production.
Our team then carefully selects the reclaimed materials, ensuring they meet our high standards of quality and character.
The craftsmen work their magic, executing each step with precision and care.
Finally, the delivery. This is our teams favorite part. We can’t wait to see your reaction to your new custom piece!

Each table is touched by many hands from initial design to final installation. The personal touches throughout our process demonstrate just how committed we are to our craftsmanship and to your satisfaction. When considering the final price of a table, be sure to factor in this white-glove service and dedication.

Ready to Design your Custom Wood Table?

Browse our gallery of past projects for inspiration and to see the unique character of our reclaimed wood creations.
Schedule a consultation with our team to discuss your custom table dreams.
Visit our showroom to experience the beauty and craftsmanship of our pieces firsthand.

We encourage clients to consider Heritage tables like an investment in a piece of art that will grace your home for generations. Your table will share the story of its past and build character during its new life well into the future.

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Additional Factors:

Each table is built by skilled artisans who dedicate their time and expertise to every detail.

Material Selection : We offer many different lumber options. The selection of wood, character, uniqueness and species affects pricing.
Thickness of the Top: Thicker materials means more board footage which means more material cost. Depending on the design it may require additional steel support which can also add to the cost.
Design Complexity : Intricate designs and unique features demand greater skill and time. Simpler designs or replicas of existing pieces will generally cost less.
Finishing Process : Our finishing process has many steps, which includes careful sanding between each layer, ensuring a durable and beautiful surface. Custom and/or additional rounds of finish work will add to the cost.

In Our Family, in Our Blood

During his construction days, Seth’s work was more than a job for him – he fell in love with the craft of woodworking

“You'd see this huge, super cool table being brought in and assembled, and I thought, ‘Now that is what I want to do. I want to make some cool tables like that.’”

That experience influenced Seth’s decision to open Heritage Beam & Board with his business partner and co-owner, Emily Krauklis. Now Seth is able to bring that passion and creativity into many more homes. Furthermore, both Seth and Emily can trace their lineage back to Norwegian roots. Their Scandinavian heritage also influences their design aesthetic.

At Heritage, our commitment extends beyond the final product – we strive to exceed your expectations at every stage.

This is another reason why the cost of a table transcends mere dollars and cents; it encompasses the story of the materials, the dedication of the artisans, and the promise of an heirloom built to last generations.

We don’t just build tables, we craft legacies.

Our Portfolios

The 2,500-pound table: Behind the scenes of a dramatic collaboration

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:37:53 GMT

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?

Since no one could say for sure what the other side looked like, we had to try it.

The 180-degree rotation took about a half-hour to complete, and it was the right call. After a total of four hours on site, the table was finally set in its new home. Both designer and client were very happy with the outcome.

We hope this case study shows just how creative, collaborative, and capable the team at Heritage Beam & Board is at bringing your idea to life, no matter how extreme the challenge or how grand the scale is.

If you are interested in building a unique piece of furniture, give us a call today!

Our Portfolios

A Modern Take on a Lake House Renovation

emily@heritagebeamandboard.com (Emily Krauklis) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:06:53 GMT

Reclaimed wood is often associated with a specific look and feel. It’s rustic, rich, warm and cozy. It’s inviting. It’s comfortable. So how might we put a new spin on “old” wood?

This Modern Take on a Lake House Renovation stretched us to do just that.

When you think of reclaimed wood, do you think of the classic “farmhouse” look? If so, that’s fair. A lot of the wood we reclaim is, in fact, from historic farmhouses and barns around Southeastern Wisconsin.

But sometimes a client has a different vision…

When two of our long-time partners approached us to work on a complete lake home renovation project, we were thrilled. Architect Meg B. and designer Emily Winters, whom we’ve worked with for years, challenged us to create a refined and minimalistic aesthetic using reclaimed wood as an accent.

“We absolutely knew that we could pull off the look they were looking for.” –Emily Krauklis

When we visited the property with Meg and Emily, our creative juices really started to flow. They shared their vision and plans with us, which led to us making several suggestions and tweaks based on the wood we had in our stock.

Working with experts is key to success

This often happens when we work with folks we know well – building off of one another’s expertise. And after working together on dozens of projects, our partners trust us to do what we do best and bring the client’s vision to life.

On this project in particular, we assembled a dream team of creatives, which included local metal worker, Seth Tyler.

“We’ve worked with these folks so many times that they know exactly what they’re going to get from us. And vice-versa, we know whenever we’re part of a project with these experts, it’s going to be top notch.” –Seth Hanson

The client gets what the client wants

The homeowner wanted a clean and elegant look throughout the home, with seamless lines and a cool color palette. Through the integration of different materials, including reclaimed wood and metal, we designed the home into something very special.

This project is a perfect example of what can come from

working closely with partners to achieve a client’s goals, and
the versatility of using reclaimed wood in modern design.

A rustic, country, or “farmhouse” look is beautiful, but it's not what the client wanted. Our job was to showcase the wood based on what the homeowner and designer envisioned…and then let the wood shine.

As always, we worked hard to achieve the outcomes the client desired. And although it feels like bragging to say it, we think our collaboration with the builder, designer, and fellow artisans really hit the nail on the head with this one (pun intended).

Heritage Beam & Board is on your team

Our projects are investments. We strive to create the best possible outcome by working with you, for you, and alongside you.

When you’re ready to bring a custom project to life, we’re ready to help and will make sure your finished product exceeds your expectations.

If you have an idea for a home upgrade, remodel, or new build and would like to work with Heritage Beam and Board, please contact us today!

Our Portfolios

The Cellar Home-Theater Room project: A Client With a Vision

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:22:58 GMT

At Heritage Beam & Board, we pride ourselves on building genuine, long-standing relationships with our clients and partners.

And yes, this takes time!

But we believe one of the primary reasons Heritage is not only thriving but expanding as a business is we’re willing to invest in getting to know our clients and learn what they truly want.

Then, when the time comes, we help bring their dream projects to life.

Cue The Cellar Home-Theater Room project

Our homeowner had a vision to build a theater room in her basement. Not just any old theater room would do, however. It was wild and something we’d never seen or done before at Heritage…

Think very dark wood, rustic textures, and a whimsical feeling throughout.

We created some initial renderings and bids, but the project came to a bit of a standstill as the homeowner wondered, “Do I really need to do this? Maybe not.”

This happens regularly – where some time might pass between the initial idea-generating or design phase, and actually starting construction.

She thought about the theater room for several months, and kept thinking until she made up her mind to do it. Once we presented our final iteration of the theater room, we were good to go.

Smoothing the bumps in the road (and walls)

This next part should not come as a surprise: Our team faced numerous challenges as we planned out the custom beams. We worked hard to achieve a balanced aesthetic despite numerous structural constraints.

For instance, when making custom paneling, we’d like each panel to be the same as the one next to it. In this case, we couldn’t do that because the wall contained several jet-outs, making it extraordinarily difficult to achieve a balanced and symmetrical look around the screen.

Initially, we proposed changing the wall layout to smooth out the jet-outs. However, this solution would have reduced the square footage of the room slightly, and she did not like that idea.

So we had to figure out a different way to make the room feel balanced and cohesive:

The client gets what the client wants

As with other remodeling projects, sometimes we’re faced with constraints that we simply can't “fix”.

So we do our best to work around various challenges such as wall jet-outs, immovable duct work, light fixtures, electrical, plumbing, and the like.

What matters most to us is that the client loves the final outcome, and that we’re able to mitigate the vast majority of hurdles in order to give the client what they want.

In this homeowner's case, we did it. She reports using the theater room regularly, and we’re delighted that the reclaimed wood she chose “lives on” to continue its story in a new home.

Heritage Beam & Board is on your team

Our projects are investments. We strive to create the best possible outcome by working with you, for you, and alongside you. And we genuinely understand if a recommendation is not the most important thing for you to do at that time, as was the case with this home theater.

So when you’re ready to bring a custom project to life, we’re ready to help and will make sure your finished product exceeds your expectations.

To get started with your next project, contact us today!

Our Portfolios

New Home Build: A Reclaimed Collaboration

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 23:57:14 GMT

This reclaimed collaboration project in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, was a huge undertaking with several incredible partners: homeowner John, Andy Weber with John Michael Homes, and Eric Fell with Action Weld & Supply.

And by “huge,” we mean it was the most work we’ve ever done in one home—designing and installing 15 major elements including a custom range hood, large staircase, bookshelf with a hidden door, a basement bar, custom beams, and backlit shelving.

But let’s go back to the beginning when John approached us with a vision for his new home…

A retired business owner, John came to us with many ideas and inspiration photos. He knew the feeling and aesthetic he was hoping to achieve, yet he was also open to suggestions for how we could help him build it. We went back and forth for months, figuring out how to bring his ideas to life and stay within his budget.

Some of this time was spent figuring out the best uses for our material, such as which wood to use and how to create the feeling John desired. Each individual element required a smorgasbord of creative solutions.

Fortunately, John was a real trooper in helping us come up with ideas for each space. We find that this type of open and trusting partnership is critically important in order for us to fulfill our promises to our clients.

Iteration is the name of the game

Since Heritage Beam & Board came in after the home was already in process of being built, we adjusted some of our designs and materials to fit the framing already going in. Working through each issue and executing creative solutions highlight what all people should know about working with Heritage:

Our team is incredibly skilled and versatile
We invest in building relationships with clients and partners
We are nothing if not flexible

When everyone works together towards one shared goal – from the homeowner to the Heritage team to the very last contractor on site – we help make dream projects come to life.

Case in point, our goal at John’s home was to make it feel cohesive throughout, with John’s aesthetic and character in mind. Here are a few of the new-build reclaimed projects that were particularly challenging and satisfying:

Project 1: Fix the run-of-the-mill kitchen range hood

John loves to cook and entertain, so it made sense to put in a beautiful large range and range hood. But the installers had covered up the impressive range hood with standard cabinetry, which felt to us like an opportunity to do something really special.

John thought so, too. So we talked about how we could make the range hood a feature piece in the home – with astounding results!

Working with John, we took down the standard cabinetry and installed a very cool reclaimed wood wrap that’s now a focal point of the kitchen. In fact, the new range hood wrap elevates the entire home with its warmth and character.

“Along the way, if you’re going to do your best, you have to be willing to look in the space and make an adjustment to whatever the print said.” -Seth Hanson

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Project 2: Make the staircase look like it belongs in the house

One lesson we’ve learned over the years is we like to be involved as early in the building or remodeling process as possible. It’s helpful for a variety of reasons, but mainly so that we can finalize the design, materials, and pricing before the work progresses too far and we wind up making edits on the fly.

In John’s home, we were tasked with putting treads on the staircase, facing it with risers, and adding custom metal handrails. We’re always grateful to work with the incredibly skilled Eric Fell with Action Welding & Supply in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

To make this staircase flow with the rest of the home’s design, we made several significant structural changes: installing an extra post down the middle and flipping the direction of the staircase.

The staircase was a big undertaking. Fortunately, by this time in our process, John had gained a lot of trust in us to problem-solve and make the end product look incredible – like it was always meant to be this way.

Project 3: Hide the basement storage room with a hidden bookshelf

In the basement of the home, there’s a small room that John intended to use for storage. He didn’t want a door there, instead he wanted that space to basically disappear. So we came up with the idea for a bookshelf that would serve as a hidden door to the storage room.

It was an ambitious plan, and the engineering required to make it just right was something special. You see, hidden bookshelves pivot and swing. And, they need to be able to fully open—a challenge when there’s a concrete wall just on the other side of the doorframe.

To get this right, we designed and redesigned it, installed it, took it back out, pulled it apart at the shop, and found a way to make the shelves deeper.

It took a bit of time and effort to get this single element to both look good and work correctly.

Collaboration is key to our success

If we learned anything with this big, bold, beautiful collection of 15 projects in John’s home, it’s that we work best when working right alongside our clients and partners.

John’s vision came together thanks to the many conversations and iterations we engaged in throughout the process. His flexible approach was critical as we had to make several adjustments in real time.

No matter how many drawings and renderings we do, and no matter how much we’ve envisioned and designed and redesigned a space, there’s nothing quite like seeing the joy spread across our clients’ faces when they see their finished project(s) for the first time.

“This project exemplifies how meticulous planning, innovative problem-solving, and strong client relationships lead to exceptional results.” - Emily Krauklis

If you are interested in working with Heritage Beam and Board on your next home project, contact us today !

Our Portfolios

What is Reclaimed Wood?

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 02:07:15 GMT

So you’ve got an idea for your home, work space, or an heirloom-quality piece of furniture – and now you need to decide what to build it out of. Wood is a great choice, say lots of experts including us at Heritage Beam and Board. But what are the options?

We’re going to take an in depth look at reclaimed wood and learn:

What reclaimed wood is
Where reclaimed wood comes from
The benefits of using reclaimed wood
How to incorporate reclaimed wood into your project
How to care for reclaimed wood
How to get started on your next reclaimed wood project

What is Reclaimed Wood?

Reclaimed wood has been removed or “salvaged” from another source, then reused to build something new. Reclaimed wood typically comes out of old barns, homes, commercial buildings, and railroad ties. “Reclaimed” means that it was once used for one purpose, was dismantled, and repurposed into something else.

At Heritage Beam & Board, some of our favorite projects have incorporated wood from barns around SE Wisconsin: dismantled log cabins, historic mansions, and even the old Vilter Manufacturing Plant in Milwaukee.

Compared with new wood, or wood that is freshly cut from trees, reclaimed wood tells its unique history through the wood grain, notches, and imperfections contained within the beam or board. New wood simply can’t compete with the beauty, charm, durability, or environmental friendliness of reclaimed wood.

Our Case Studies

Types of Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed wood falls into one of the following categories:

Hand hewn
Rough sawn
Smooth planed

Hand-hewn Lumber

Hand-hewn lumber is the oldest type of lumber we work with at Heritage, dating back to the 1800s. Because of its imperfect chiseled surfaces and tight grain structure, hand-hewn lumber has the highest character of any lumber. Its natural changes in color and patina can only be achieved by time and age. Hand-hewn lumber was frequently sourced from local hardwoods near the building site. The builders weren’t felling trees and sending them to the mill! Rather, this wood would’ve been cut down to size on site. Like every good DIY project, the dimensions of hand-hewn lumber aren’t perfect – which is now what gives the lumber its charm.

“They bring out a very authentic rustic character to a home or project. You can see very clearly the full history right there on the beam. You know that someone made this. I often wonder who did it, you know?” -Emily Krauklis

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Rough Sawn Lumber

Rough sawn lumber started appearing in the early 1900s. As lumber mills became more prevalent, wood was sawn with a circular or band saw blade, which created a very straight edge compared to hand-hewn lumber. The saw blade left lines across the wood.

Rough sawn wood is often true to dimension, which is how you know it’s an older cut of wood. It has more substance. In comparison, new commercial milling practices cut their lumber to the lowest tolerance of the dimension. So, a “2 x 4” actually measures 1.5” x 3.5” if you purchase one from the lumberyard today.

Smooth Planed Wood

Smooth planed wood is rough sawn first, then run through a planer to smooth out the surfaces. Smooth planed wood is usually newer wood. Clients might choose smooth planed wood for a cleaner presentation or to attain a specific design aesthetic.

Where does Reclaimed Wood come from?

As mentioned, reclaimed wood can come from almost any old home, building, barn, or factory. Often, we’ll get a call if a building is set to be demolished. In all honesty, we don’t love taking buildings down, especially if they have history to share. We’d much rather see the buildings up and being used. However, that’s not always possible. So if a building is going to be torn down, we try to go in and take out whatever materials we can. We call this “storied lumber” because there’s still a lot of life left in the materials…and we want to continue their story.

An example of this is a project we did years ago in Cedarburg, Wisconsin – a retirement home where the owners wanted to incorporate a feeling of the yesteryear of Wisconsin. What did they think of? Dairy farms. So, as the residents were heading into their retirement, they got to have these big barn vents from old dairy farms that no longer existed. We helped the client continue the story of these historic dairy farms and share that comfortable, nostalgic feeling with retiring residents. It was a cool thing to connect the residents with the history of our state.

Why use Reclaimed Wood?

Reclaimed wood is beautiful, hearty, and extremely durable. It has tons of authentic characteristics that can’t be replicated, even though people might try their best to do so. It’s for people who love history and who want to continue a story that began generations before they were born.

Reclaimed wood is beautiful. On a design level, reclaimed wood adds warmth to spaces that might otherwise be a bit sterile. When paired with other materials such as metal or stone, reclaimed wood can hold its own – balancing structure and design exactly to our client’s liking.

Reclaimed wood is hearty. When reclaimed lumber was still living, it was exposed to all kinds of extreme temperature and weather conditions, pushed and pulled by the

wind, and likely had to fend off more than a few insect infestations or even forest fires over the years. It had decades, if not hundreds of additional years of strengthening and hardening compared to new wood.

Reclaimed wood is extremely durable. Sometimes clients wonder if reclaimed wood might rot more quickly than new wood, or if there are insects living inside it. No and no, and here’s why:

The majority of our reclaimed wood comes from old-growth lumber, with tighter grains that make for super strong lumber. And as for bugs or unwanted organisms? Not to worry. During the reclamation process, our reclaimed wood is kiln-dried, which kills anything trying to hide inside it.

What are the best uses for Reclaimed Wood?

Potential uses for reclaimed wood are only limited by your imagination. Some of the most popular projects we’ve created for our clients include:

Tables
Mantles
Stairs & handrails
Wall cladding
Shelving
Flooring
Ceiling treatments
Bars & bartops
Kitchen islands
Hooded vents
Beams

If you’re building, remodeling, or furnishing a beloved space and have an idea you’re wondering about, our experts at Heritage would love to talk with you and figure out how to bring your idea to life. Check out our case studies to see examples of many of these projects.

Care and Maintenance: How do I take care of my reclaimed wood products?

Reclaimed wood is incredibly durable and doesn’t need much more than a regular dusting to stay in great shape over the years. With that said, we know life happens and occasionally wood needs to be cleaned.

First and foremost, avoid using harsh chemicals! Instead, use warm water and a touch of dish soap to clean anything that’s become dirty or greasy. If you ever have questions about the care of maintenance of a Heritage piece, don’t hesitate to call.

Common “problems” with reclaimed wood

(“Problems” is in quotes because two of these problems aren’t necessarily problems at all, rather changes to the wood over time.)

Weathering – This is a natural process that will continuously occur. The weathering of wood doesn’t mean it’s losing its integrity, rather it’s the wood simply adjusting to the conditions of its environment.

Color changing – As part of the natural weathering process, wood naturally turns more gray when left in the sunlight. If that’s a problem, be cognizant about where you place reclaimed wood pieces and try to avoid direct sunlight. We can also treat reclaimed wood projects with UV protectants to further protect it from color changes.

Cracking or splitting – Reclaimed wood will match the moisture and air quality of your home. For larger home installations, we will acclimate your wood to your home by placing it in the building before it’s time to install so the wood has less chance of changing after installation.

For furniture pieces, it’s best to avoid drastic or abrupt temperature changes. A “woopsie” occurs when a client moves a Heritage piece of furniture outside to the porch or garage in order to make room for a party or gathering inside. That drastic temperature and humidity change can cause the wood to split, shrink, or crack. If this happens, call us and we’ll see if there’s anything we can do to help!

Is Reclaimed wood environmentally friendly?

In a word, absolutely. Reclaimed wood saves new trees from getting cut down and gives new life to lumber that would have otherwise been destroyed. As a business, we also plant several hundred trees on our properties each year as our gift back to the environment. Reclaimed wood is very environmentally friendly.

At Heritage, trees are the lifeblood of our business. Trees give us oxygen, protection from the elements, and beauty for our eyes and our souls. So here’s to leaving as many living trees still living and gratitude for the opportunity to reclaim wood from around Wisconsin, Illinois, and across the Midwest.

Heritage Beam & Board: Your reclaimed wood experts

Reclaimed wood meets a whole host of different design styles and aesthetics, from modern farmhouse to sleek industrial to cozy cabin vibes, and everything in between. We don’t just provide materials – we see a project through from our clients’ initial off the wall ideas, to stunning completed projects.

We can do this so well because at Heritage, this ain’t no side hustle. We offer up our whole team of expert craftsmen who work with reclaimed wood full time. We love to meet with clients and designers to play “matchmaker” for your projects. And we know we’ll be able to find the exact right wood for the exact right design for the exact space you have in mind.

Have an idea? Give us a call!

Our Portfolios

How to Clean & Care for Reclaimed Wood

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 22:57:24 GMT

MAKE YOUR INTERIOR DREAMS COME TRUE

Reclaimed wood is still living (in a sense) as it takes on the qualities of where it’s placed.

START YOUR PROJECT TODAY >

This means, if your reclaimed wood “lives” in direct sunlight or in a room with big temperature or humidity swings, your reclaimed wood piece will change over time. It might crack, bleach, or yellow. And while these aren’t necessarily a bad thing, we think anyone with wood fixtures, furniture, or flooring in their home should be aware of the potential consequences of sun, heat, and moisture. So let’s dig in.

Understanding Reclaimed Wood

In full transparency, all types of wood are impacted by sun, heat, and humidity, whether it’s reclaimed or not. We like to tell our clients that consistent temperature and moisture levels are the key to ensuring your wood projects last for many years and generations to come.

It’s not always easy to maintain temperature and humidity control in your home, especially living in the Midwest with our four distinct seasons…which sometimes occur within a single day. So how do we prevent cracks and color changes from developing?

Protecting your Reclaimed Wood

At Heritage, before we even begin working with a new lot of reclaimed wood, we treat it in a kiln that prepares the wood for its final home. The kiln dries out the wood to a particular humidity level and removes any little critters that may have made the wood a temporary home.

Frequently, we’ll then transport our reclaimed wood to the space where it will live for several days before we begin. This time spent in its intended space helps the reclaimed wood get acclimated and ensures fewer changes within the wood after the project is completed.

Exactly no one wants their new, beautiful reclaimed wood to burst a crack a week later!

One of the best things you can do to protect your reclaimed wood projects is to install a whole-house humidifier. This practice alone will help maintain moisture levels throughout your home all year long, and will definitely increase the longevity of your wood pieces.

Our Case Studies

How to clean reclaimed wood furniture & fixtures

Heritage finishes are extremely durable and meant to last. That said, there are several things you can do to protect and clean your wood pieces:

Don’t allow standing water to pool on the wood! It’s never good.
Vacuum any pockets or crevasses, especially in mantles and beams.
Use a damp (not wet!) rag to wipe clean any matte finishes.
For light stains, a little dish detergent and water should take care of it.
For heavy stains, contact us for a recommendation.

Cleaners deserve their own category, especially since there’s some nuance to what you might use and what to avoid.

PSA: Avoid harsh chemicals at all costs!

What chemicals are considered harsh?

For the purpose of cleaning reclaimed wood, avoid bleach, ammonia, and alcohol-based cleaners . We also recommend avoiding vinegar as it can eat away at some finishes and/or etch into the surface of the wood.

Sources on the interwebs might say it’s ok to dilute vinegar with olive oil, but why? It’s safest to simply stick with a light mixture of water and very gentle soap (castile or Dawn work well), wipe the wood clean with a microfiber cloth, and let it air dry.

How to remove a stain from reclaimed wood

We believe Heritage pieces are meant to be loved and lived with, not put on a pedestal and admired from afar.

That said, what happens when a rogue glass leaves behind a water stain, or a hot pan is accidentally put down on your wood table or countertop? These are bigger issues than routine cleaning maintenance, and we’re here to help.

Obviously, do everything you can to promote the use of coasters for drinks and trivets for hot dishes. But if (or when) the inevitable “oh, shoot!” occurs, s end us a picture!

We’ll either be able to make a recommendation over the phone or come out to your home for a consultation. We care about your Heritage pieces and are happy to make a recommendation based on years of experience.

If you properly care for your Heritage reclaimed wood pieces , trust us when we say they will bring immense joy and beauty to your life for as long as you have it. Enjoy!

PS: Here’s a quick guide we give to all our clients about how to best care for their new Heritage fixtures, furniture, and flooring:

Care Instructions HBB.pdf

Our Portfolios

Transformed Into A Captivating Bar & Cocktail Lounge Area

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:25:26 GMT

Transformed Into a Captivating Bar & Cocktail Lounge Area

Picture transforming a space in your home and giving it new life. That's precisely what we accomplished with this marvelous home bar! This unique bar stands out as one of our most cherished designs and installations. Our client desired a vibrant and lively space for hosting gatherings, pushing us to think outside the box. When we stumbled upon the elegant landing in the front parlor room, we instantly recognized its potential to be transformed into a captivating bar and cocktail lounge area. The reclaimed wood countertops gracefully rest upon impeccably crafted, matte-finished cabinetry skillfully installed by Steve Basso. Above the bar, a magnificent railing crafted from a single piece of hand-selected, reclaimed wood adds a touch of rustic charm.

If there's a specific area that you wish to renovate or convert into something fresh, feel free to reach out to us. We would be delighted to showcase our impressive collection of reclaimed woods and give you a tour of our showroom. The captivating textures and rustic colors are guaranteed to captivate your imagination and ignite your creativity.

Gorgeous Live-edge Walnut Slabs

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 19:57:37 GMT

We’ve brought in a handful of gorgeous live-edge walnut slabs.

Different from what we usually feature, reclaimed materials, this walnut will be used in all sorts of projects - we’d love to collaborate on unique ideas with you.

Reclaimed Wood Ceiling Installation

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 19:40:21 GMT

Installation Update

We are seeing progress as we wrap up the week with a light highlight. The team has been pushed to their MAX this season as we’ve taken on more significant and extensive installations. This ceiling will be a crown jewel in this space, and we can’t wait to show you the finished result.

If you're interested in updating or adding some depth and character to your room -- Let's Talk ! We have a great selection of reclaimed wood for every home project.

Gather Around The Table

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:59:17 GMT

Much More Than A Place To Dine.

It’s the place where we gather in joy and sorrow. Where you see your family grow and blossom. It’s where you make memories and share your dreams. We're ramping up our reclaimed table production. Round, square, traditional finish, - we've got it covered. Invest in your family table to make a space you all want to gather 'round.

Crafted For You.

Whether your people are urbanely rustic or casually sophisticated, Heritage’s first love has always been to create pieces that support the weight of generations of gatherings. Tables are for family. We don't craft furniture to match everyone's life, we custom-make it to match yours.

No Scraps, Only Potential!

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:22:26 GMT

Nothing is Considered Scrap.

No Scraps, Only Potential! We're all about redefining what's possible. When it comes to our reclaimed barn wood, nothing is considered scrap – every piece is a canvas, brimming with potential.

Whether you're a seasoned craftsman or a DIY enthusiast, our reclaimed wood is an invitation to explore your creativity. It's a chance to breathe new life into history, to reimagine the past into something uniquely yours. We’ve recently reduced a lot of our lumber to move and make way for all the new (reclaimed) lumber that we’ve brought in! Give us a ring, and let’s get your hands full with some great pieces of history at amazing prices 262-757-8199

Log Cabin For Sale

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 20:04:18 GMT

Log Cabin For Sale - Interested in a piece of Wisconsin history?

A while ago we were contacted by a client from Richland Center, Wisconsin, who offered us this adorable mid-1800's hand-hewn log beam structure to dismantle and move off-site. We did, painstakingly and systematically, and now the cabin is ready to be rebuilt on someone's property as a sweet little hideaway. Most of the materials retain their integrity, solid and ready for use. Give us a call and let's talk, we'd love to give these materials a new story!

Underground Railroad Right Here At Home

stefaniecaterer@yahoo.com (Stefanie Caterer) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 15:09:33 GMT

When we bought the Heritage North property we were stoked for so many reasons, the most exciting being that the main building has an actual bathroom. Also there's a full kitchen, adequate office space, and ample parking aside from the prairieland itself. After closing, we did a little walkabout of the full acreage of the property to really see what we had here. It's pure Wisconsin grassland through and through. Then we stumbled upon something. Just west of the main entrance, at the top of a little rise and in the middle of nothing, we found an old water pump. Of course, we got curious. We started asking around about who owned the property in the past, what was it used for, and if there were any good stories we should hear.

WHAT WE FOUND WAS EXTRAORDINARY.

Turns out, we had a lot to learn about our own property, and our home county for that matter.

It was mid-summer 1842. John Tyler, a Virginian from a slave-owning family, was president. The Civil War wouldn’t commence for 19 years. Harriet Tubman wouldn’t escape from slavery for another seven years, and it would be three years before Frederick Douglass published his seminal work, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (Boston, 1845). Before any of that, a 16 year-old from St. Louis named Caroline Quarlls ran away from the only home she had ever known to escape the bonds of slavery.

Caroline was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1826 (a few sources say 1824). As a domestic slave, she was sometimes punished and whipped, and at one point forced to cut her long hair. On July 4, 1842, Caroline was granted permission to visit a sick friend. She covertly threw a bundle of clothes out of an upstairs window and retrieved them once she left the house. She had somehow obtained the sum of $100, so she bought herself a ticket on a steamboat bound for Alton, Illinois. Her father being her white slave owner, Caroline was fairly light-skinned, so she was able to ride incognito out in the open among a group of unsuspecting white girls.

The steamboat landed and Caroline, with the help of the steamboat operator, caught a stagecoach to Milwaukee. (Wisconsin wouldn't officially become a state for six more years). With a price of $300 on her head and pursuers hot on her trail, she found abolitionist friends who helped her hide (reportedly under a hogs head, a barrel, and finally plain old straw), and then was transported west across the Milwaukee River. She hid in people’s homes along the way, one of them in Walworth County's Spring Prairie- just down the road. Local folks who aided her became some of the first “conductors” of Wisconsin’s Underground Railroad. Caroline continued on her way and made it to Canada and freedom. She went on to live a long life, marry, and have children.

Caroline is the first recorded escaped slave to travel through Wisconsin’s Underground Railroad. She came right through our county, and paved the way for others to do the same.

That water pump on our property? It turns out it’s on a plot where an old house used to stand, and that old house was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Did Caroline stop here and use this well? We don't know for sure, but we know she paved the way for other people just like her who stopped and rested, on land we call our own. It means so much more to us that it was put to use for freedom, and the flag we fly high means a little more.

This is why we love what we do. Everything has a story, and some of our salvaged materials from the area could be a part of Caroline’s story. We want to use these materials to continue the story, remembering the past and working for a better tomorrow.

https://journaltimes.com/news/state-and-regional/caroline-quarlls/article_f2bc63c8-3ca3-5821-bdcd-e03959c5cd17.html

https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/tp/id/41851

https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/tp/id/41851

https://www.travelwisconsin.com/article/history-heritage/experience-history-the-underground-railroad-in-wisconsin

Why Heritage Uses Old Growth Lumber

Tue, 11 May 2021 15:16:29 GMT

In our line of home renovation and furniture building we’re often asked why we reclaim and use old growth wood for our jobs.

What defines old growth lumber? Why is it special?

Answering these vital questions forces us to get back to the basics of what we do at Heritage Beam and Board.

First, lets talk about what old growth means.

Simply put, old growth is wood that came from old forests. These virgin forests sustained trees that matured naturally, over hundreds of years, competing for space and light. This competition results in a slower growth rate, creating very tightly packed tree rings, which is fantastic for building. Before the Industrial Revolution, there were thousands of acres of virgin timberland in this country. During the time, vast virgin forests were felled for timber that was used for railroads, shipbuilding, energy, construction, and farming, so only a few natural forests remain. We salvage the wood of the old natural forests from warehouses, schools, barns, factories, and homes unable to be restored.

So why does Heritage Beam and Board use old growth materials?

STRENGTH AND DURABILITY

When tree rings are dense, the wood itself is stronger. Stronger wood means it can bear more weight than newer lumber, and it's also more rot resistant. That's why these old structures have lasted so long. They're made from beams that can support heavier loads for longer spans, resisting natural elements, and even when past their original use, they can be salvaged and used for years to come.

"Looking at the growth rings in our material is like taking a step back in time.
We wonder what was happening when this tree was growing and better yet,
what will this wood be used for next?"

— Emily Krauklis, Owner

BEAUTY

Covered in character, this well-seasoned wood with a working history is used today to give a design style incomparable to new lumber. With beautifully aged patina weathered by the sun, wind, rain, and snow, salvaged old growth stock is unable to be replicated. Each beam is fundamentally beautiful and inherently durable, often repurposed in different structures because this kind of strength and character should never go to waste. In original barns and buildings dating as far back as the mid-1800’s (when local mills established themselves in the middle of natural hardwood forests), these veteran beams were integral building elements. Because they've aged organically and artlessly, each beam and board has an attitude and we didn't have to bully them to get that result.

HISTORY

We have old growth wood from historic general stores, gangster hideaways, community-raised dairy barns, significant urban factories, and so much more. Salvaged from structures unable to be saved, the strength and beauty of these storied materials can be used to continue their journey, passing on pieces of America’s history to future generations.

"Our favorite stuff is the old stuff. Nothing makes a piece more special
than tight grain old growth wood with a story."
— Seth Hanson, Owner

But old growth is a limited resource, which is why it's so valuable. Heritage is committed to salvaging and and re-using this natural resource because of its inherent value and history. These relatively rare historic antique materials can and should be re-purposed for another generation of use (and then another, and another).

We are committed to using old growth wood at Heritage Beam and Board for furniture, fixtures,
and installations because we are committed to continuing the story of these historic materials.

See what we can do with old growth by viewing our capabilities .

HERITAGE TOP 10 OF 2020

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 20:14:31 GMT

The 2020 jobs that
were even more
"Heritage" than usual.

[1]
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

A good company is only as good as the team working for it, and we’re super excited about ours! In 2020 we added to the Heritage roster: Christopher (our new go-to finish guy), Eric (an excellent addition to the Heritage shop crew), and Ian (great all-around carpenter and shop funny-man). We want these guys and our whole crew to know that they are a valuable asset to the Heritage team!

[2]
Ranting About the Rante Project

Flashback to the early years of Heritage when we would cart reclaimed pieces in a trailer and hock them at various markets around the Midwest. We met the Rantes at Chicago’s fantastic Randolph Street Market and hit it off immediately. They called us a bit later to do some work when they were building a home on Lake Beulah, Wisconsin. Then in 2019 the Rantes approached us about working on their new home in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Our largest project to date, we worked alongside Dave Knecht Homes and Stillwater Architecture re-milling custom exterior board and batten, flooring, an island and bar tops, doors, shelving, mantels, and a custom copper stitch dining table, all from reclaimed material. The home is stunning, and we couldn’t be happier for the Rantes. It was an unforgettable experience!

[3]
Vive la France

Originally just a material supply job, this special project for French Country Inn and its in- house restaurant, Savoy grew into a serious endeavor. Combining the original historic French Country Inn with its gangster past while wholly reconstructing the newly redesigned Savoy restaurant (all beautifully situated on Lake Como in Walworth County, Wisconsin) made it one of our most notable jobs in 2020!

[4]
Collaboration Junction

We love the relationships we have fostered with our builder, designer, and architect colleagues. Our continued collaboration with Matustik Builders , Fairwyn Custom Home s, JFK Design Build , Peabody’s Interiors , Wade Weissmann Architecture , Curate Design Group , Brick and Mortar Home , The Design Coach , Ann Kottler Home , Renaissance Design Group , Delta Renovations , Stebnitz Builders , Thelen Total Construction , Gathered Design and many others is so rewarding! These strong partnerships help us serve our clients well, and 2020 was a great year for promoting and sustaining these joint efforts.

[5]
Nix Trifecta of Originality

One of our more creative projects, we were approached by our friends at Brick and Mortar Home and Outdoor to create two amazing bunk rooms, a gorgeous hand-routered Lake Geneva inspired banquette table, and an unforgettable entertainment center fashioned from an old Dunphy boat!

[6]
Heritage Raises the Flag

By day or by night, we couldn’t be prouder that we are American- made, and we want to tell the world! Flying 40 feet high above the shop is Old Glory, the emblem that signifies our freedom, heritage, and American roots. Looking to come visit the shop? Now you can’t miss us- just look for the Stars and Stripes!

[7]
Storage Solution

We have literally laid the ground work for our brand new storage facility, which may not sound like a big deal, but who doesn’t need more closet space?? Our new building will enable us to organize and store all of the Heritage materials using a system of efficiency that will ultimately take our client experience to the next level.

[8]

A Little Press Never Hurts

Five years after the first Keefe Real Estate's Lake and Country Magazine cover story (complete with fabulous clothes from Overland Sheepskin Co .), Keefe wanted to do a revisit focusing on the team and how Heritage has grown over the last half a decade. It’s always so satisfying to step back, take stock, and reflect on how our little family business has grown. Needless to say, we are more than thankful!

[9]

Ame-ing to Please

We are often asked if we create pieces from trees that have been taken down on an existing property. Our question back is typically, “Is it sentimental?” If it is then, “YES!” In this project we crafted multiple pieces from a tree that stood on the Ames Family farm for over 200 years. The slabs had been stored in their barn, just waiting to be made into a dining table, pub table, coffee table, library shelving, and an enormous plate rack (yep, all from one massive tree!) Even cooler: two of the pieces include laser engravings that correlate the timeline of tree rings with Ames Family history. If that doesn’t say Heritage, we don’t know what does!

[10]
Don’t Rock the Boat

Last year on a site visit, we spied what we thought was just a cool looking old boat. Always on the hunt for unique antique pieces, we planned to salvage it for parts for a future job. During our research (we might like history a little bit!) we put a photo of the boat on an online forum. It turns out the boat is a historic Naptha Launch: a steam-powered pleasure craft of which there are less than a dozen left in the world! We have relinquished the boat to a wonderful gentleman in Quebec who is restoring her to be once again seaworthy. Truly one for the Heritage history books.

YOU'LL LOVE WORKING WITH US

Wh at do we do? We get inside your head, explore your imagination, make it happen.

Sit and brainstorm in our curated showroom while we determine how to build out a vision that reflects your personal style. Our developed sense of how to turn ideas into design is second only to the excellent craftsmanship of our hand picked team. You might say we aim to give you the best reclaimed material and design aesthetic in the midwest.

Vilter: A Mirror of America's Past

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 01:06:26 GMT

Milwaukee

Wisconsin’s largest city, proudly sits on the western shore of Lake Michigan. With a population of over 600,000 and a rich cultural history, it has adopted many nicknames: Brew City, City of Steeples, Cream City and more, each reﬂecting an aspect of Milwaukee’s motley personalities. Milwaukee is known for it’s beer, midwestern-ﬂavored urban culture, and its working-class history depicted by the classic TV shows Laverne and Shirley and Happy Days. German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Greek, and Jewish folk originally settled in the area, with even more people groups attracted to the city for jobs in manufacturing. To make great cities it takes great people, and in that Milwaukee had no shortage. Theodore Vilter and his brothers were living examples of the American Dream, right on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1867, young German immigrant Theodore got a job at a small machine shop in Milwaukee owned by Peter Weisel. Theodore worked his way up from machine erector to foreman, and in 1882 he purchased his ﬁrst share in the company, gradually gaining a controlling interest with his brothers. Finally, the company was renamed the Vilter Manufacturing Company with Theodore as president, his brother William as secretary and treasurer, and their brother Emil on the board of directors. Hard work and vision paid off for these diligent Vilter lads. Strangely enough, a couple of warm winters in 1889 and 1890 affected the future of the Vilter Manufacturing Company. Because people couldn’t get ice from the natural frozen water sources like they usually did, they turned towards the then newfangled mechanical refrigeration. Vilter Manufacturing spearheaded the refrigeration movement by producing steam-driven refrigeration compressors and Corliss Steam engines, securing Vilter’s place in the history of the Industrial Revolution.

The use of mechanical refrigeration in the dairy, meat-packing, brewing, and ﬁshing industries was quickly adopted. Vilter Industries became a forerunner in the cooling industry, supplying engines and compressors to many of the nation’s breweries and M ilwaukee’s own Schlitz, Blatz, and Pabst breweries. Vilter Manufacturing has lived a rich history that mirrors America’s own. Aside from perpetuating the acceptance of refrigeration and air conditioning, during World War II the Federal Government contracted Vilter to manufacture 105-millimeter howitzers for the American Army, during which time Vilter employed many women in its factories. Vilter also proudly provided air conditioning equipment to the sports palace used in the 1960 Rome Olympic Games and was the ofﬁcial sponsor of US Bobsled and Skeleton teams for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver, BC. Vilter was also responsible for the refrigeration and air conditioning contract for Biosphere II in Oracle, Arizona.

The Vilter complex was located in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood, and the materials used to erect the structures after a ﬁre in 1892 were strong enough to stand over 100 years later. Recently, one of the company’s structures was taken down with the plan to salvage and repurpose many of the invaluable materials. Harvested from natural woodlands, the trees used for the Vilter structure were upwards of 300 years old. This old growth wood came from forests not planted as tree farms, but were the original trees that were native to the area. The strength and character of the old growth wood can’t be replicated or recreated. It is wood that is a part of our nation’s past and strong enough to be a part of the future. Wood that has as much of a history as America herself. Heritage Beam and Board is thrilled to craft the Vilter old growth wood and materials into custom pieces and installations. At Heritage, we take the narrative seriously, striving to preserve the history and continue the story of this irreplaceable wood. Heritage: We continue the story.

Source Material:

American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 pages 248 & 258 History of Milwaukee, city and countyS. J. Clarke Publishing Co. V3 1922 pages 99 & 131

http://www.themakingofmilwaukee.com/history/index.cfm Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Jeremy Anthony Watrous, Western Historical Association, 1909

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=2684 Milwaukee, a half century's progress, 1846-1896 Consolidated Illustrating Co. 1896 page 120

http://www.hevac-heritage.org/biographies/surnames_S-W/vilter/V1-VILTER.pdf

Blood Stains and Bullet Holes

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 01:06:26 GMT

Local legend has it that a rural cabin in the upper penninsula of Michigan was the hideout of well-known gangster Meyer Lansky, who was one of the most influential mafiosos in the U.S. during the prohibition era. He was said to have been a genius at numbers, and set up innumerable illegal gambling joints around the country, especially in Florida, Havana, Cuba, and Las Vegas. In fact, Lansky, along with his partner Bugsy Seigel, is said to have been one of the first major investors in Vegas hotels, including the famous Flamingo.

During the mid-1900’s Meyer Lansky was surreptitiously one of the most powerful men in the country due to illegal mob operations. He reportedly bragged, “We’re bigger than U.S. Steel.” Immortalized on the big screen, Lansky is portrayed (as Hyman Roth) in The Godfather: Part II by acting legend Lee Strasberg who captured his mild-manners and unassuming personality perfectly. Lansky has also been portrayed by Patrick Dempsey in Mobsters, and Anatol Yusef in Boardwalk Empire.

Heritage was able to procure some of the lumber from the floorboards of the Michigan hideout, making it the most dangerous reclaimed wood around. Don't worry, we're preserving the blood stains and bullet holes.

Waals Department Store, Walworth, WI

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 22:20:39 GMT

Everyone around Walworth County remembers Waals Department Store. Of course they do, there was nowhere else to shop. (Except maybe Bradley’s in Delave n.) One out of every second person on the street will tell you that Waals was where they got their dungarees when they were a kid. That kind of thing sticks with you. The store is gone, but the memory remains, and the best part is, Heritage has some of the original wood! We have acquired gorgeous southern yellow pine floor joists 2 1/2” x 11” at 24 foot lengths. This is special wood from a piece of Wisconsin’s history.

Pictured: Shots of the demolition (not done by Heritage) in the summer of 2015

Photos by: Cathy Long

For all of you historians out there here’s a little timeline of the history of Waals, never to be forgotten:

1902 : Myer and Dora Cohn open Waals Department Store in Walworth County, WI.

1912 : New Waals store opened after being in two other locations since incorporating.

1929 : Warehouse is added onto the property along with other improvements.

1935 : After remodeling, Sam and Clara Cohn become the new owners.

1949 : Store expands over the IGA store and begins offering rugs and furniture.

1960 : Richard and Linda Cohn Freeman return to Walworth to run the store.

1968 : Property to the South (owned by Dr. Wallace Coon) is acquired.

1972 : Bert Booth Building is acquired by Waals. 1974: Extensive remodeling completed.

1998 : John and Roberta Hunt purchase the building.

1998 : Interior restored to expose original tin ceilings and wood floor. New complex is called On the Square Antique Mall.

Schwall Barn

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 22:35:45 GMT

Sometimes almost losing something makes you realize it’s worth working hard to get it back. That’s what Kim (Schwall) Seidl and her husband are doing—working hard to see faith, family, and community restored on her grandparent’s farm.

The Schwall Family Farm was a classic midwestern farm that had been in the family for generations. Bill and Carrie Schwall bought the Stone School Road farm in 1950 from John Spellman, who was still in possession of the original land deed that recorded an 1839 sale of the farmland by the U.S. Land Office to a man named John Hutchison. Along with midwestern history, the farm had everything a farm should have: a barn and toolshed, a chicken coop and corn crib, a milk house and garden plot. The chickens were always clucking and crowing and getting underfoot while there were hogs to slaughter and pickles to make. Through the years the farm kept a couple of memorable horses, namely Arnie, who would only let Bill ride him for a few brief moments and then “head for the closest tree with the lowest branch”, and Dolly, a Shetland pony the kids were alw ays itching to feed. They would stand at the fence and pull the long grass growing by the posts and wait for Dolly to trot over and nibble from their hands.

The reunions are what the family remembers most, and at the reunions, the food. Of course there was always food. Grandma Carrie’s coop always supplied enough fresh chicken for Bill to gladly barbecue, and she kept a plentiful garden with strawberry beds, asparagus, rhubarb, corn. There was always an abundance of good things growing. During a family gathering, if more arrived than planned, Grandma Carrie and her big garden had it covered. She would simply say to Dave, “Go out the garden, Dave, get an extra dozen ears.”

Industrious and prudent, Carrie was always “putting something up” like tomatoes, apples, pickles. She would grow and can and pickle and bake, living out the old-fashioned credo “Eat What You Grow and Grow What You Eat”. Carrie was one of those economical Wisconsin farm woman from an earlier era who could squeeze a nickel and find a dime.

Hard work and industry was what their farm life was all about. “It was the farm work ethic. We seem to have lost that these days, but maybe it’s coming back. People are realizing again that there’s such a joy to planting, watering, and harvest: a beginning, middle and an end.” — Kim (Schwall) Seidl.

The Schwall family enjoyed years of gatherings and reunions at the farm, but time passes, generations grow, and stories continue. Bill built Carrie a new home on the edge of the north field, then died shortly thereafter. Although Carrie continued as the matriarch of the family with her table always full of homemade food, the large family gatherings slowly fazed out. Carrie’s oldest son, Dick, farmed the land until the demands of two careers made it impossible to continue. In 2014, with the eventual sale of the farm, a small portion of the farmstead was purchased by a granddaughter (Kim) and her husband (Todd Seidl). The “Home Farm Project” vision was born to create a place once again for family gatherings and recapture the industry and productivity of bygone days. “We’re doing what we feel we are called to do, putting the proverbial ‘all our eggs in one basket’ and it’s all on Stone School Road. We want to bring back the family reunions and special occasions, bring back the sense of a tight community we had in the days of Bill and Carrie with family and friends, and it definitely is a collaborative family effort.”

K im is at the helm, passionate about planning it and fitting all the pieces together. When they all realized the old barn on the property couldn’t be restored, Kim called Heritage to take down the barn and build them a platform table using some of the reclaimed boards, “Keeping part of that barn on the farm, in the family.” What this Wisconsin family is doing is what Heritage is all about: community, family, tradition, hard work, reclaiming the past to enjoy the present, and using what you have right in front of you. We agree with them that “It isn’t about the beams and boards, it’s about the people.”

“It was the farm work ethic. We seem to have lost that these days,
but maybe it’s coming back. People are realizing again that there’s such a joy
to planting, watering, and harvest: a beginning, middle and an end.”
— Kim (Schwall) Seidl, 2015

Thomas Barn

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 22:27:21 GMT

The year is 1918. Woodrow Wilson is Commander-in-Chief. The Progressive Era in America is coming to a close, and on November 11 the Great War ends. Billy Graham is born, Al Capone has a son and in one year Wisconsin will become the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, granting women across America their right to vote. Americans are hopeful, including and Mike and Ella Thomas, who settle as tenant farmers in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, with big plans for the future.

The barn buildings, a dairy barn, horse barn, and granary, are all in place on the farm when they arrive and had been for some time. The barn was built from trees found on the property: black and red and white oak, beautiful old-growth hardwood that is not typically found on these farms.

Mike and Ella work the farm, initially with draft horses, then later yielding to the machine era by adopting tractors. The barn is used to keep the horses and later, the equipment, becoming a machine shed, housing first a pair of McCormick F-20s, then an Oliver 77 Row Crop and a Ford Golden Jubilee.

Mike and Ella welcome their son, Bob, into the world in 1923, bringing a second generation to the farm. Bob grows up on the farm, working the land with his dad, learning how to get up with the sun and work until the job is done. Roughly twenty years later, in the mid-1940’s, they are finally able to buy the farm, truly making it their home. Like many family farms around them, it becomes a small dairy farm, milking never more than 30 cows at a time.

In 1960 Bob marries Dora Ross, and they buy their only new tractor, a Ford 881 that is on the farm to this day. They welcome the third generation of Thomas men to the farm with the birth of their son, Rick, in late 1961. Mike and Bob still run the farm, selling off the dairy cattle in 1966, but keeping a few heifers that become the start of a new beef herd, until Mike passes away in 1968, followed by Ella in 1972. They leave a legacy of family and hard work behind them.

Bob and Rick grow the beef herd and Rick begins showing cattle at the Walworth County Fair through 4-H. His steers call the east section of the tractor shed/horse barn home. When Rick goes off to college, the beef herd is sold and both buildings and the land are rented out to a local farmer who houses a small beef herd of his own on the property.

In 1998, a year after Dora dies, Rick marries his sweetheart, Julie Speers, and they hold their wedding reception at the farm, cows and all. Although Rick works managing student union facilities on college campuses around the midwest, they spend many weekends at the farm with Bob maintaining the property and the garden plot, and introducing the fourth generation to the farm, their son Robert (Rob) in 2004. Rick’s work brings him back to UW- Milwaukee, so Rick and Julie decide to locate permanently to the farm, and when Bob passes away in 2012, he leaves knowing that Rick, Julie and their son, Robert (Rob) will inherit the farm after they’re gone.

In 2015, Rick, Julie, and Rob begin to make the farm their own and make the tough decision to begin tearing down the barn buildings that have fallen into disrepair. They call Heritage to take down the barn, knowing that Heritage will preserve their past, repurposing the wood, putting it to good use and giving it a new life, continuing the story of their family and their farm for generations to come.

“ This farm has been in our family for over a hundred years.
My dad was born on this farm, literally on the kitchen table of the old farmhouse in 1923.”
— Rick Thomas, 2015

heritage-beam-and-board

Choosing the Perfect Reclaimed Wood Conference Table

Design a custom conference table for your office, studio, or home

Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony — like a well-set table.

Thomas Merton

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One question that’ll catch us by surprise is, “Does Heritage do conference tables?”

Consider these Questions when Designing your Reclaimed Wood Conference Table:

Where is the Table Going to Live?

“We had a project where the table was so large, it came in separate pieces and took six people to deliver.” – Seth Hanson

How do We Work?

Who We Serve

Speaking of Weddings...

Make Sure your Conference Table is a Perfect Fit

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How Much Does a Custom Table Cost?

Beyond the Price Tag: The True Value of a Heritage Table

Old Growth vs New Growth – A Story of Quality

Our Case Studies

How We Build Custom Tables

﻿

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Additional Factors:

In Our Family, in Our Blood

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The 2,500-pound table: Behind the scenes of a dramatic collaboration

Go Big or Go Home

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

“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

Install with Care — And Good Humor

What would it look like to turn it around?

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A Modern Take on a Lake House Renovation

This Modern Take on a Lake House Renovation stretched us to do just that.

“We absolutely knew that we could pull off the look they were looking for.” –Emily Krauklis

Working with experts is key to success

“We’ve worked with these folks so many times that they know exactly what they’re going to get from us. And vice-versa, we know whenever we’re part of a project with these experts, it’s going to be top notch.” –Seth Hanson

The client gets what the client wants

Heritage Beam & Board is on your team

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The Cellar Home-Theater Room project: A Client With a Vision

Cue The Cellar Home-Theater Room project

Smoothing the bumps in the road (and walls)

The client gets what the client wants

Heritage Beam & Board is on your team

Our Portfolios

New Home Build: A Reclaimed Collaboration

Iteration is the name of the game

Project 1: Fix the run-of-the-mill kitchen range hood

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Project 2: Make the staircase look like it belongs in the house

Project 3: Hide the basement storage room with a hidden bookshelf

Collaboration is key to our success

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What is Reclaimed Wood?

What is Reclaimed Wood?

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Types of Reclaimed Wood

Hand-hewn Lumber

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Rough Sawn Lumber

Smooth Planed Wood

Where does Reclaimed Wood come from?

Why use Reclaimed Wood?

What are the best uses for Reclaimed Wood?

Care and Maintenance: How do I take care of my reclaimed wood products?

Common “problems” with reclaimed wood

Is Reclaimed wood environmentally friendly?

Heritage Beam & Board: Your reclaimed wood experts

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How to Clean & Care for Reclaimed Wood

MAKE YOUR INTERIOR DREAMS COME TRUE

Reclaimed wood is still living (in a sense) as it takes on the qualities of where it’s placed.

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Understanding Reclaimed Wood

Protecting your Reclaimed Wood

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How to clean reclaimed wood furniture & fixtures

What chemicals are considered harsh?

Happiness is not a matter of intensity
but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony — like a well-set table.

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[1]
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

[2]
Ranting About the Rante Project

[3]
Vive la France

[4]
Collaboration Junction

[5]
Nix Trifecta of Originality

[6]
Heritage Raises the Flag

[7]
Storage Solution

[10]
Don’t Rock the Boat