Sustainable Hardwood Furniture: Perfect Indoors and Outdoors

What do the following have in common?

• Atlantic City Boardwalk
• New York City park benches
• 18th century Jesuit missions in Bolivia
• The Solferino Footbridge that crosses the Seine River in Paris

Give up?

They’re all made out of Ipé (pronounced “EE-pay”), a fine-grained, buttery-smooth hardwood from the tropical forests of Bolivia.

Environmentally Friendly

There’s a real “green” story behind this incredibly strong, durable wood. Ipé furniture manufactured by Jensen Outdoor comes from the Chiquitania forest reserve in Eastern Bolivia. Because of the nature of tropical dry forest, trees there grow very slowly. Consequently, some of the world's strongest and most durable woods come from the Chiquitania forest.

From an environmental standpoint, no product is more environmentally conscious than Ipé timber. All wood used in the manufacturing of Jensen Outdoor furniture is Forest Stewardship Council-certified, which means that the FSC can track a piece of furniture all the way back to the original tree it was cut from. A hectare of forest is divided into 25 sections and trees that have reached 85-99% of their natural lifetime are selectively cut from one section.

Weather-Resistant

Jensen Outdoor uses the heart wood from Ipé trees (also known as Tajibo in Bolivia) in their furniture; other parts of the tree are used for flooring and plywood.

Ipé wood is gorgeous, with a warm, chocolate brown finish when new. As Ipé matures, the sun transforms the wood to a silver patina that enhances the hardwood’s natural appeal.

Because it is so dense, Ipé naturally resists splintering as well as rot, decay, insects, carpenter ants, mold, and even fire. Weather has little to no negative effect on Ipé, making it an ideal choice for Pacific Northwest outdoor rooms.

Top Selling Folding Chairs

The Topaz folding arm chair and side chair have long been top sellers at Rich's showrooms. Combining good looks and great functionality, the chairs feature a slitted backrest and spacious seat. The arm chairs are crafted from individual slats of Ipé timber. Topaz chairs complement any Ipé dining table, and can be easily folded for simple storage.

Not only are the Topaz chairs a favorite of Rich’s customers, but all Ipé furniture is extremely popular. As such, we stock an excellent selection at Rich’s six spacious showrooms, including:

• Dining tables (square, rectangular, round)
• Dining chairs (arm chairs, side chairs, stacking sling arm chairs, folding side chairs, swivel chairs, counter-height chairs, bar stools)
• Deep seating (love seats, sofas, sectionals, ottomans, lounge chairs, swivel rockers)
• Chaise lounges
• Coffee tables, side tables, console tables

In this article, we’ll introduce you to four specialty items you can combine with a dining set or chat group to accent your Ipé collection:

• Ruby Rocker
• Opal Console Table
• Lincoln Glider
• Adirondack chair and footrest

Ruby Rocker

Sway the day away in the Classic Ipé Ruby Rocker. An angled seat, slanted backrest and roomy arms constructed with individual slats of Ipé timber provide comfort for lazily rocking.

Opal Console Table

The 55”x17” Opal console table is perfect for setting down several trays of hors d’oeuvres, displaying decorative accessories or even cleverly serving as an outdoor cocktail bar.

The stylish console top and lower shelf are made from individual slats of solid Ipé timber resting on artfully tapered Ipé legs. A glass-smooth hand finish is given to the Ipé timber through a special fine-grain sanding technique.

Lincoln Glider

Add old-fashioned charm to your front porch or backyard patio with the Classic Ipé Lincoln Glider. Thoughtfully crafted with individual slats of Ipé timber and a contoured backrest, the 59” wide glider provides comfortable seating for two.

This showpiece in the Classic Ipé Collection features traditional cottage styling. A smooth-as-glass hand finish is the result of a special fine-grain sanding technique.

While designed for comfortable lounging, seat cushions are available to enhance your comfort and relaxation.

As an alternative, you can change the look of your glider by pairing it with throw pillows. Rich’s has lots of pillows in stock.

Adirondack Chair and Footrest

Kick back and relax in this classic Adirondack chair with the matching footrest. Traditional cottage design makes these chairs a natural on a deck, in a yard, or gathered around a fire pit.

Individual slats of Ipé timber form the signature slanted back, ergonomic seat and roomy armrests that invite you to sit and stay awhile.

Visit Rich’s in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tukwila, Tacoma, Bremerton, and Mount Vernon. We’re open Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm and Sundays, noon-5pm.