Hammer and Hand expands with 'upcycled' furniture

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Upcycled Furniture: WRaP + STaCK lines

Hammer and Hand Inc., a Southeast Portland-based design-build company, launched a line of 'upcycled' furniture last month, looking to tap into the demand for green products and modern design while taking the notion of recycling one step further.

Since its inception 15 years ago, Hammer and Hand has made a practice of salvaging materials from its projects for reuse in others. Then the company started buying barn siding from demolition projects, and bleacher benches and locker doors from remodeling schools.

For Daniel Thomas, Hammer and Hand's co-owner, the preference has always been 'upcycling' — the practice of reusing materials for a new purpose — over recycling.

"Wood recycling is actually down-cycling," Thomas said. "It gets ground up for use as wood pellets for fuel. Any materials longer than four feet we hold on to so it can be used for something else."

The salvaged materials are regularly used by the company in its remodeling and construction projects. Last year the company started making farm tables out of wood from old barns. The new Upcycled Furniture line takes the effort a step further.

Hammer and Hand partnered with Bright Designlab, a two-person Portland design shop with a modern sensibility focusing on flowers, photography and interior design. The pieces in the Upcycled Furniture line range in price from $2,000 to $4,000.

Hammer and Hand, which saw $5 million in revenue last year and has about 30 employees, has hung on during the recession by cutting its margins in order to keep working, Thomas said.

He isn't expecting the furniture line to be a huge driver of sales.

For now, Thomas said, "It's an area we get to play in. If this takes off, I'll fly that plane."