For those of you who missed it, Reed LaPlant unveiled the first three designs of his new RL collection this past Wednesday at our gallery. Reed also spearheaded a great discussion about what sustainability meant to him as he designs his pieces and what choices he must make to serve both the environment as well as his vision.
Trade-offs between materials choice and design are sometimes inevitable. But as Reed pointed out, often it comes down to re-thinking a little and deciding what is best for for each piece given the intended use. A good example of this was covered as we discussed finish options for his furniture. Reed has researched and used most of the newest eco finish options available on the market today, however when finishing an item such as a dining table that is going to get a great deal of use he still prefers to use an oil based polyurethane. When asked why, he noted that no other finish hat he has tried has the same long term durability. When it comes down to a choice of whether to use a more eco friendly water based poly which may leave the surface more vulnerable to long term damage or to coat it with petroleum based finished to attain a harder, lasting surface finish, his choice is to use the later. This choice, while seeming less eco sensitive in the short term, was in fact a more sustainable option in the long run as it may prevent pieces from ending up in the landfill prematurely.
If you would like to see some of Reed's work please visit our website or go to ReedLaplant.com.
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