What We Make
There tends to be a much closer emotional bond with something custom-made than with something simply selected from a shelf of product clones. That is why our custom, sustainable furniture & architectural elements can often spark emotion – for their unique characteristics and dramatic detail.
From a designer’s initial vision of form & function, to the creative collaboration with the Icon Modern team, to the locally-sourced, sustainable materials chosen; all of this culminates into a one-of-a-kind piece that tells a story.
Material versatility
While our origins lie in sourcing sustainable urban wood, we love finding and working with other creative materials. This has led to a substantial expansion of our material offerings over the past 10 years, making our shop a creative playground for designers to explore what’s possible for their custom projects.
Other materials include steel, stone, glass, concrete, brass and even rope, just to name a few! We relish in designers coming to us with a challenging custom project that gives us the opportunity to find new or interesting materials. Whether that’s turning old car hoods into café tables or making a space divider out of rope, our versatile material options make almost anything possible.
Sustainability
Sourcing local, sustainable materials serves as our foundation because we believe it is the right thing to do in a world that is facing substantial environmental challenges. We strive to source all of our materials within a 100-mile radius of Chicago, IL, not only reducing our carbon footprint but also supporting local businesses.
Our hardwood comes from urban trees that would otherwise be destined for landfill. These trees grow in cities and suburbs and are not harvested for their timber value, but are removed because of insects, disease or construction.
We believe each tree has a story to tell, with its own unique characteristics and history. All of this is reflected in every urban wood table we make and why they are so loved.
FUN FACT: On average, Icon Modern diverts 10,000−20,000 board feet of urban wood from landfill on an annual basis!