Shermans Convert Discard into Design with Teak Root at Teak22.com

It's true: one man's trash does become another man's treasure. Sharalee Sherman can attest to that fact. She and her husband Alan own Teak22.com.

One may ask, what's so unique about their teak business? Artisans in wood have crafted furniture and used teak in architecture and shipbuilding for at least 600 years. The trees grow sturdy and strong in south Asia. People have fitted yachts with it, built architectural masterpieces with it, and created outdoor furniture with the impenetrable wood of the sturdy tree trunks for centuries.

What makes the Sherman's work with teak unique? They don't use the desirable and expensive tree trunks of the teak tree. They retrieve teak tree roots, stumps and branches that are abandoned as waste once the trees have been cut down. An Indonesian team goes into plantations and gathers the waste from government controlled Indonesian teak plantations.

The gnarly roots are pulled from the ground by elephants and separated with chain saws, into pieces of varying lengths. The natural color of the wood is similar to that of an English walnut shell. There's no carving or shaping the remnants. No one "designs" furniture from the teak roots. This is why the Sherman's call this rustic teak garden furniture "Functional God Art." The shape of each piece suggests what it is and what it is suitable for. Every piece is different from the other. And since no two pieces are alike, they lend themselves to a creative imagination as to what piece of furniture or accent they already are.

The Sherman's were one of many artists displaying at an arts festival in Troy, Alabama in April. Their display was in a class by itself. While they weren't busy selling their one, two, three and four piece teak garden furniture sets (including a bar with four stools), Alan and Sharalee were sharing their teak story with curious passersby. Their upbeat and easy going presentation made onlookers feel comfortable enough to sit for a spell on one of their garden benches. The natural wood pieces gleamed and glistened in the afternoon sun. Buyers could appreciate its durability, simplicity and uniqueness. The fact that teak is the strongest wood in the world and that it can withstand all types of weather made a good selling point. Termites would hurt their teeth if they tried eating this garden furniture. Another selling point is that teak roots are not manufactured. There are no moving parts that will rust, tarnish or break.

"Within each teak piece lies the secret of its design and durability," Mrs. Sherman said. "The configuration of the piece, its grain and hue suggests what it is. Teak is incredibly impervious to weather. If the pieces are exposed to sun or rain, it doesn't change the integrity of the wood. That makes it extra valuable."

Residents of Albertville, Alabama, the Shermans and their teak furniture attend art shows and festivals throughout the southeastern states. Teak22.com has many satisfied and repeat customers. One thing is certain; no two people will have the exact same piece of furniture when they purchase their garden teak.

Sharalee and Allen are second generation rustic teak furniture dealers. Her father-in-law, Ron Sherman of Indonesia, was the first in the family to go into the Indonesian plantations. Following in his footsteps has been both personally satisfying and profitable for them.

"We consider what we do to be a gift from the Lord," Mrs. Sherman said. "He made the roots, stumps and branches...all we do is make them functional again. It's wonderful to think that something once left in the ground unnoticed and abandoned has now become this spectacular work of art design and yet is still so incredibly useable. We LOVE what we do...We are truly blessed!"

Teak furniture became popular some 60 years ago. Finn Juhl, a Danish furniture designer popularized a minimalist wood furniture style known as the Danish Modern movement. Juhl commonly used teak in his designs. Teak furniture has become popular once again. It is one of the most sought-after of vintage furniture pieces today.