Sometimes you can’t avoid losing a tree if it’s damaged in a storm, showing signs of disease or standing in the way of a new addition. But you and your family may have enjoyed that tree for years.

Instead of consigning a cherished oak, sycamore or catalpa to the wood chipper, why not give your felled tree a second life as a beautiful dining room table, kitchen cabinet, entertainment console or other piece of custom cabinetry?

And while your project may be small, reclaiming fallen urban timber nationwide can make a big difference—rather than importing exotic woods from across the world.