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Umdabu: Live edge tables rooted in the beauty of wood
A PASSION FOR THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF WOOD
Umdabu is a labor of love for founders Robert and Michael. They are passionate about the natural beauty of wood and love the idea of breathing life and value into objects which were previously untouched. They believe that perfection is nature, and love being able to incorporate natural elements into contemporary settings, including private homes, hospitality and business settings.
ROOTED IN AFRICA’S NATURAL BEAUTY
Umdabu’s wood is sourced entirely in Africa and each furniture piece is 100% hand cut, sanded at finished at the Umdabu workshop in South Africa. The inspiration for each item comes from its natural beauty.
PERFECTLY IMPERFECT, BY NATURE’S DESIGN
So often wood furniture looks very little like the tree it came from. The bark is stripped, the wood cut and sanded down into sharp, clean lines. Live edge (or natural edge) furniture has a different ethos. Live edge crafters leave the original gnarled shape of the edge of a tree and often the knots and cracks too, to give a natural touch in the woodwork and retain its irregular loveliness.
A TRULY ONE OF A KIND PIECE
Because of this, each live edge table is an original, one of a kind piece. There are a number of options when it comes to creating your table including the wood type, cut, color, finish and more. Creating your Umdabu piece starts with selecting the perfect piece of wood from the workshop. Once you’ve done that, seeing the piece come together is a truly rewarding experience. Just watch the craftsmanship in action:
EXPERTS IN THE TRADITIONAL SHOU SUGI BAN TECHNIQUE
The traditional Japanese art of burning timber to provide a beautiful and long lasting product is a technique that Umdabu have perfected. This is one of the finish options available, and a beautiful way to personalize your piece - from the traditional highly burnt fragile look, to a sleek and contemporary finish.
A TIMELESS COMPLEMENT TO TRADITIONAL & MODERN DÉCOR STYLES
Live edge tables are timeless works of art and suit most décor styles as they have natural and neutral tones. They bring warmth and life to a room and can add movement and contrast to otherwise straight lines. We’ve seen them in rustic country homes, modern minimalist spaces, industrial settings and even in corporate boardrooms. The possibilities are endless.
WHY WE LOVE UMDABU
We love anything that brings the outdoors in and showcases the beauty of our natural world. These beautiful and functional pieces are created by craftsmen who have dedicated years to their art. Because each piece is so unique we love to work closely with you to help you select the perfect piece of wood and finish. Seeing a table created from that initial choice of wood through to being in situ in your home, knowing that your family will gather round it for years to come, brings us so much joy.
All images courtesy of Umdabu @umdabu