If you’ve ever been to the outdoor recreation-obsessed city of Bend in central Oregon, you’ll understand why designer Bill More, the man behind a small line of truly lovely bamboo furniture called Forged Elements is based there. Like his handcrafted eco-bamboo, recycled steel, and resin inlay tables – Ventralis, a coffee table ($790), and Pica, a console table ($750) – Bend is woodsy but not rustic; beautiful but not blindingly so; a bit modern but also totally charming.
More considers his work “handcrafted functional art” and it shows. Each table is crafted with eco-friendly Moso bamboo and finished with natural hard-wax oil; they take about four to six weeks to produce … no mass produced knock-offs here. Most striking are the resin inlays that run the length of the tabletops. Available in “leaf” or “meadow,” each one is completely unique.
Another most excellent feature: the inward folding table legs that keep shipping charges non-cringe inducing and make the Pica and Ventralis ideal for small spaces where versatility is key.
If you ever happen to visit the Pacific Northwest and love skiing, hiking, rafting or any other sort of thrilling Mamma Nature-based activity, I highly recommend a stop-in to Bend. But if you’re like me and would rather invest in lovingly made bamboo furniture instead of a trip to Oregon, go with a Pica or Ventralis table.
