At Live Edge Design, we often strive to do more than build beautiful furniture. We aim to create living statement pieces that invite stillness, honor nature, and breathe awe into our daily routines.

"Mother Tree" is no exception: a unique, monumental arbutus slab table that creates moments of awe. A tapestry of time, of forest generating feelings of wonder, vastness, and amazement that shift focus outward, quieting self-talk and reducing stress.

Carved from a single extraordinary arbutus cross-section over 21 feet in circumference, the piece holds within it the story of the tree, its rings mark decades, perhaps centuries, of Pacific Northwest growth and resilience.

Why the name "Mother Tree" ?

Inside this vast slab we have planted a living garden of succulents, mosses and lichens in the centre — an intentional homage to the regenerative power of nature. The table becomes both sculpture and ecosystem, awaking daily to the rhythms of light and life. In this way, Mother Tree invites us to pause. To set aside our phones. To sit with wonder. To feel the pulse of nature in our lives and spaces.

In forest ecology, the concept of a “mother tree” has emerged to describe how the largest, oldest trees serve as hubs of connection and regeneration within a forest community. These trees support seedlings via networks of fungi in the soil, distributing resources and information across the forest floor.

By naming this piece "Mother Tree", we honor not only the grandeur of this single, truly unique, specimen of arbutus, but also the idea that from deep roots and wide embrace, new life emerges. The living center garden mirrors the offspring of the tree, the future seeded in the present.

In our fast-paced, screen-lit world, Mother Tree offers an invitation: live with nature, make space each day to turn off the notifications, to feel the wood grain beneath your fingers, to see the living centre bud and grow. Let the table anchor a moment of stillness. Let the presence of wood and life reconnect you to your roots.

Whether set for a quiet solo breakfast, a shared dinner with loved ones, or a workspace where ideas flow, Mother Tree stands as a reminder: even the largest tree begins as a seed. And every living thing is part of a network of support, growth, and renewal.

Arbutus Dining Table

The wood boasts rich, complex tones and wild, intricate grain patterns that are unlike anything else in the world. And when you find a "cookie" (a cross-section of the tree trunk) of this size, it’s like unearthing buried treasure. A once-in-a-lifetime piece.

Noteworthy Facts . . .

The largest registered Arbutus tree in BC was at a site in Esquimalt: circumference ~ 7.8 m (~25.6 ft) 

Visit the largest living Arbutus tree 'champion tree' near Nanoose Bay: 2.26 m diameter (7.41 ft) which equates to ~23.3 ft circumference.

The tree that is preserved in 'Mother Tree' was 21ft in circumference and can be experienced at our studio in the Cowichan Valley.

Typical size of Arbutus (Madrone) trees (left) and Champion Tree, still alive and growing in Nanoose Bay.

Note: These are stock images and were not used to create "Mother Tree".

Come visit Mother Tree at our upcoming Studio tour or book a private tour (in person or virutal). We’d love to connect.

Thank you for joining us on this journey of wood, growth, and reverence. May Mother Tree hold space for your moments of awe.

Warmly,

Donna & the Live Edge Design Team

P.S. We’d love to hear from you — how do you invite nature into your daily life? What surface in your home holds your stillness? Reply to this email or tag us on socials with your moments of connection.

OUR STORY

Live Edge Design is a full-service custom furniture design and build company, located in the rainforest of Vancouver Island, B.C.

Our work can be found all over the world in luxury hotels, homes and extraordinary dining establishments.

From sourcing and milling trees to drying, design, production, and finishing, the Live Edge workshop does it all with creativity and quality.

If you’re happy with Live Edge Design, we encourage you to leave us a Google review and let others know how we helped you!

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Live Edge Design

5195 Mearns Road

Duncan, B.C. V9L 6W3

Canada

Phone: 250-748-0763

Toll-free: 1-866-748-0763

Fax: 250-748-2988