- Words by Angela Cowan Photographs by Lia Crowe

Step into Wolf & Porter害羞草研究所檚 bright showroom in Kelowna and chances are you害羞草研究所檒l immediately want to run your fingers over the finely crafted tables on display. Masterfully made from heritage and sustainably sourced woods and resins, and with a variety of metallic legs and accents, these bespoke creations are the pinnacle of quality, able to lean into the practical or the luxurious to cater to their clients.

Wolf & Porter is the collaboration between Harvey Bremner and Chris Aalbers, who began the business just over a year ago, and went about things a little differently than expected.

害羞草研究所淲e spent a lot of time害羞草研究所攖he first four or five months害羞草研究所攋ust nailing down the right suppliers and the right processes to make sure right from the get go that anything we put out was on par with the products coming out of New York or LA,害羞草研究所� says Harvey.

The two were already friends when they both recognized a hole in the high-end furniture market, and the blending of Chris害羞草研究所檚 wealth of exceptional woodworking skills and Harvey害羞草研究所檚 decades of sales and marketing savvy seemed an ideal collaboration.

害羞草研究所淜nowing Chris and the quality of his work, and me and my marketing and sales experience, it seemed the perfect fit,害羞草研究所� says Harvey.

The pair took a big leap from day one, immediately securing the largest premises they could find, and investing heavily up front, rather than starting as a smaller operation and seeing how it went.

害羞草研究所淲e treated it more as an IT start-up,害羞草研究所� explains Harvey, who害羞草研究所檚 worked with various big tech companies in Silicon Valley. 害羞草研究所淭hey talk a lot about having the ability to scale, whether you can grow into it.害羞草研究所�

Now, less than six months since opening to the public, Wolf & Porter has established relationships with clients throughout North America and is on track to compete with some of the biggest designer names in furniture.

Harvey describes Wolf & Porter as 害羞草研究所渉igh-end but accessible,害羞草研究所� and a quick look through their online shop yields a gorgeous array of tables, including: The Arundel, a striking coffee table crafted with spalted maple, cradling a dark-smoke river of resin that sells for $3,250; the $5,995 art installation/coffee table The Bruin, made from rich walnut and left in its natural, meandering border; and The Belgravia, a spectacular piece created from a single slab of sustainable African teak that comes in a few dollars shy of $24,000.

Another table that is instantly eye-catching is The Eton, a visually intricate piece crafted from Mappa burl (sourced from European poplars), one of the top hardwood choices for high-end furniture. The blend of light and darker shades under a warm, burnished finish is stunning, and it would be a gorgeous addition to just about any room.

But the real gem of Wolf & Porter is its bespoke process, where clients can customize their own products.

害羞草研究所淎s soon as people understand that we can custom build them something, that害羞草研究所檚 immediately what they want,害羞草研究所� says Harvey. 害羞草研究所淭hen it becomes multi-generational, because there is an emotional quotient there.害羞草研究所�

As he explains, 害羞草研究所淚f you go back 20 or 30 years, people害羞草研究所檚 tables were, in the main, very well made.害羞草研究所� People became attached to these pieces because they had belonged to their parents or their grandparents, and memories had been made around them害羞草研究所攖hey had stories to tell. As soon as Wolf & Porter害羞草研究所檚 clients understand that they can get not only a high-quality table, but one that they themselves having a hand in designing, it brings back that emotional connection to the process.

To satisfy that demand, Wolf & Porter designed a set of parameters that anyone can navigate, choosing specific woods, leg shape and material, accents and more.

害羞草研究所淓very single table that comes out of that customizable table process is unique,害羞草研究所� says Harvey. 害羞草研究所淵ou could do two back to back with the same materials and they害羞草研究所檇 look completely different, with their own characteristics.害羞草研究所�

Each wood comes with a distinct personality, some leaning more into classic or contemporary, some subtle or edgy in design and shape. The company also takes on select clients for highly customized, top-shelf artistic pieces. One 11-foot-long table in progress, for example, incorporated one-of-a-kind legs made to look like trees, with long benches inlaid with the client害羞草研究所檚 logo.

Ultimately, Wolf & Porter害羞草研究所檚 entire philosophy is about creating a unique and memorable customer experience while delivering an impeccably crafted product. With bigger box stores, customers don害羞草研究所檛 have a chance to truly become invested with a piece, says Harvey. They walk in, pick a table, and wait for it to be delivered.

害羞草研究所淲e believe the journey starts well before delivery day,害羞草研究所� he explains. 害羞草研究所淓very decision that we make around the company is around customer experience. The quality of the wood, the design, the interaction with me and the team at the showroom. Every stage that the table goes through, the client gets an email telling them where it is in the process. It害羞草研究所檚 a journey they go through with us. And once it害羞草研究所檚 white-glove delivered into their home, they begin making their own experiences with it. That experience and journey makes a difference.害羞草研究所�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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