Bay Area Distributor Opens Showroom for Sustainable Wood Products

Bay Area wood products distributor EarthSource Forest Products/Plywood And Lumber Sales Inc. has opened a showroom called The Urban Jungle. The new 2,200 sq.-ft. space features exotic flooring, outdoor furniture, decking, wall panels, custom cabinetry and millwork, most of which are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). All products featured are manufactured with environmentally healthy, low-emitting adhesives and finishes; some are comprised of salvaged raw materials. “Our customer base includes as many architects and designers as woodworkers and finish carpenters,” according to EarthSource president Jeff Hunt. “It was our idea to create an environment for these aesthetically rich products to be seen and touched in context, rather than just on warehouse shelves. The flooring and decking are installed, with furniture sitting right on top of them. Cabinetry is featured in workable displays. The walls of the showroom are paneled with the products we sell.”EarthSource is a wholesaler, but The Urban Jungle is also open to the public. “Consumers in the Bay Area and all over the west coast are becoming more aware of the concepts of sustainability and environmental health,” Hunt says.The showroom features a wide array of exotic flooring, from Smith & Fong Plyboo’s Neapolitan Strand Bamboo to FSC-certified Guatemalan Ramon Blanco. A focal point upon entry is a large table made by custom woodworkers William Guba Associates from salvaged Claro walnut. Formaldehyde-free kitchen cabinetry by Silver Walker Studios is displayed alongside FSC-certified drawers from Quality Custom Components. EarthSource is an equity partner in a teak plantation located in Rio Dolce, Guatemala, which supplies the raw materials for its own line of outdoor furniture. For more information, call 510.208.7257.