What We Do
At studioNOLA, we create sustainable designer-built furniture. What this means to us is a process of creating modern furniture that has a high impact in your personal environment, while maintaining a low impact on our environment.
When we sit around the drawing board discussing notions of sustainability, there are three themes that always surface, simplicity, quality, timeless aesthetics.
Simplicity in design gives us the ability to efficiently create pieces where the material is honored and able to speak for itself.
At studioNola we strive to design and build furniture that will last forever, a true heirloom quality product. This level of quality is achieved by selecting the most durable materials and building each piece by hand. Our designs feature a timeless aesthetic ensuring that the furniture can be enjoyed for many generations.
You can read more about what goes into creating and delivering each piece of our handmade sustainable designer-built furniture below, and if you have any questions at all please contact us.
Sustainable Hardwoods
Each piece of studioNola furniture is crafted from sustainable hardwoods with no formaldehyde added. This wood is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) to be sustainably grown and harvested. These hardwoods are so durable that with proper care your piece of furniture will last for yours and your grandchildren’s lifetime. Now that is what we call sustainability.
Recycled Steel
Steel is the most recycled material in the World. More than 80 million tons of steel are recycled in the US each year. Much of this steel comes from recycled automobiles, so by recycling the steel we are also removing older less efficient cars from the roads. At studioNola all of our steel contains approximately 90% recycled steel, which is the highest amount available in any steel products.
Environmentally Friendly Powder Coating
All of our furniture frames are powder coated instead of painted. Powder coatings are applied as a free-flowing dry powder and emit zero volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). All overspray is captured and reused to create a 100% efficient application process. Not only is this process good for our environment, but it also produces a finished result that is nicer looking and more durable than paint.
Low VOC Sealers
Some of our hardwoods are sealed with water based polyeurethanes. They contain no formaldehyde and are safely used by and for the chemically sensitive. These low odor/low VOC sealers protect the surface of the wood from staining and abrasion.
Locally Sourced Materials
We also support our local community by purchasing as many of our materials and services as possible locally. This reduces the amount of energy required to ship goods and helps to build a healthy community.
Energy Saving Shipping
We ship your furniture with freight carriers that utilize available space on currently scheduled trucks and cargo planes. By taking advantage of this empty space we are able to help maximize the use of these transportation resources. These carriers are all part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay transport program. The EPA estimates that this program saves 3.3 million to 6.6 million gallons of diesel fuel annually, equivelant to 150 million barrels of oil. That is the equivalent of removing 12 million cars from the road!
