DWR uses only top grades of marble in our furniture. We source it from quarries around the world, where workers excavate it from a pit, cut it into large blocks and then cut it into more manageable slabs. Stone masters examine the veining and composition of each slab, assessing its quality and deciding if and how the piece should be further shaped. From there, CNC cutters with water-cooled, diamond-coated blades machine the chosen pieces to the desired specifications. Each stone is worked by hand and coated with polyester sealant to give it a nonporous, stain-resistant surface. To showcase the unique traits in each type of marble, we offer a choice of two finishes: glossy polished or matte satin.
Arabescato
White marble with heavy grey veining.
Origin: Italy
Black
Black marble with heavy white and grey veining
Origin: China
Calacatta
Off-white marble with dramatic light yellow veining
Origin: Italy
Carrara
White marble with light grey veining
Origin: Italy
Extra-White
Pure white marble with very faint traces of grey
Origin: Italy
Nero Marquina
Deep black marble with fine white veining
Origin: Spain
Verdi Alpi
Dark green marble with heavy light green veining
Origin: Italy
All Grain
A premium, Greenguard-certified leather from U.S. producer Edelman Leather, All Grain is soft and supple, with a pebble-grain texture and stain-release coating that makes the material able to withstand demanding use.
Aniline Leather
Aniline leather is made from untreated hides, which over time develop a beautiful patina: a subtle darkening and shine from aging and use. Hides differ slightly from one to the next, with distinct coloring and wrinkling making each piece unique. Natural markings and scars are most prevalent in aniline leather.
Hairy Hide
Hairy hides are natural hides left unfinished, with no hair-softening treatments or sealants. Hide-hair lengths may vary naturally from one area to another. We advise against trimming any hair; hide loss of hair over time is normal with ordinary use.
Raise
A high-quality, full-grain leather, Raise is made from the finest Italian ox and heifer hides, with each averaging more than 50 square feet in size. Natural irregularities highlight the authenticity of the tanning process, with minimal finishing to disturb the grain. A light-colored finish adds water resistance to this durable leather without altering its natural characteristics.
MCL
MCL is a premium leather with 100% natural grain, which will acquire a rich patina over time. Color variations and surface marks are inherent in this leather style, with a surface finish contributing to its very high durability.
Semi-Aniline Leather
Slightly more durable than aniline leather, semi-aniline leather is treated with a light coating of dye to ensure consistent coloring and improve stain-resistance. It has fewer natural markings than aniline leather.
Vicenza
A premium leather from U.S. producer Spinneybeck, Vicenza is dyed through to create a saturated color, re-tanned for a superior hand and lightly corrected for a consistently smooth grain. A breathable, heavy finish protects the leather while keeping its surface cool to the touch.
Ash
Lightly colored and straight-grained, ash is dense and strong.
Cherry
A durable wood, cherry has a rich, reddish color that darkens over time.
Oak
Heavy and exceedingly durable, this lightly colored wood has a prominent grain pattern and dense constitution.
Teak
A dense and durable wood often used in outdoor furniture, teak is yellow to dark brown in color. It develops a grey patina over time if it is exposed to the elements.
Walnut
Strong and hard without being extremely heavy, Walnut is dark brown in color and often has a highly figured grain.
Design Within Reach is committed to conserving, protecting and restoring natural resources. We fully support responsible forest management practices that promote ecosystem sustainability, biodiversity and long-term environmental, social and economic benefits.
Laminate
Laminated is formed by bonding together layers of wood or synthetic materials, and then applying them to a substrate.
MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard)
A durable substitute for solid wood, MDF is manufactured from wood fibers and usually coated with veneer or laminate.
Solid Wood
A term used to describe furniture components that are milled completely from natural wood.
Veneers
Taking advantage of wood grain’s natural beauty, these thin, flat panels sliced from larger pieces of solid wood are fixed to a substrate of engineered material, such as MDF or solid wood.
协调
A chemical process that darkens a wood’s surface permanently and dramatically, ebonizing is most commonly used on oak and walnut furniture.
Lacquer
A hard, clear and heat-resistant coating applied to natural or painted surfaces.
Oil
A renewable coating that protects surfaces and enhances their wood grain.
Polyurethane
A modern, synthetic coating that is tougher than traditional top coatings.
Powder Coat / Formcoat®
A dry finishing process whereby finely ground, electrostatically charged particles of pigment and resin are sprayed on a surface and then heated until they fuse and cure.
Soap
Used on light woods such as oak, this coating of rubbed–on soap flakes produces a smooth, matte finish. It must be reapplied periodically.
Satin
Available in natural and synthetic options, these substances color and highlight wood grain. They can be water- or oil-based and are usually covered with a topcoat of varnish, oil or wax.
Wax
A renewable finish that protects wood and creates a glossy appearance, wax can be used on bare or stained pieces.
Flat-Sawn
Flat-sawn (or plain-sawn) wood is the most commonly used lumber. The face can feature both straight and cathedral-shaped patterns, while the end grain has horizontal or slightly cupped figuring.
Quarter-Sawn
Nearly all quarter-sawn wood has a fine, straight grain pattern on its face; its end grain has a vertical pattern. (The main exception is quarter-sawn red and white oak, which features dramatic flecking and wavy ribbons.) Quarter-sawn is more labor-intensive than flat-sawn; it yields a very stable finished product.
Left to weather naturally outdoors, unfinished teak will gradually change color to a soft silver-grey as pigments in the surface layer begin to fade. We recommend allowing teak furniture to weather that way. However, if left in shade for long periods, teak will retain surface moisture and eventually develop mildew, which should not be allowed to fester.
Plastic is a broad term than can describe a variety of materials used in furniture at DWR. Fortunately, the care and cleaning of these materials, despite their subtle differences in composition, follows the same general steps.