Silent Rivers is proud to support the Central Iowa American Heart Association’s Heart Ball fundraiser with our donation of an African Mahogany custom designed and built table created from exotic wood salvaged from the Iowa State Capitol restoration project.
Using scrap wood from the Iowa Capitol, Silent Rivers woodshop manager Tom Bloxham and finish artisan Alex Schlepphorst designed and built this console table that doubles as a laptop desk.
This year’s Heart Ball, “Celebrating 25 Years of Healthier Lives”, takes place Saturday, February 10 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. Learn more about how to attend, donate or volunteer at this Iowa Heart Association-hosted event.
We talked to Kayla Korvarna, Executive director at the American Heart Association, about this event. “The Heart Ball is an opportunity for the American Heart Association to thank our sponsors and donors who make our life-changing work possible. It’s a celebration of advancements both locally and nationally and a fundraiser for all the breakthrough advancements yet to come.”
Kayla also emphasized that “there are still many opportunities to volunteer or donate; contact the local office at 515-414-3200 to get involved. The Heart Ball promises to be an engaging evening of fun and passion bringing community and philanthropic leaders together.”
Custom Designed and Built Table Desk by Silent Rivers
When our woodshop artisans saw the pile of salvaged wood scraps, they immediately recognized a treasure trove. Leftover from the Iowa Capitol restoration, these wood trimmings included several pieces of exotic African Mahogany that had been stored in a trash can for years in a woodworker’s shop.
Silent Rivers’ finish artisan Alex Schlepphorst got word to woodshop manager Tom Bloxham about his neighbor’s offer to sell them his amazing scrap pile. Alex and Tom have collaborated to create many custom furniture pieces, and Silent Rivers was thrilled to purchase the beautiful scrap woods.
The final product — a unique console table sized desk– is the result of Alex and Tom stacking, trimming and ‘sculpting’ with the intention of creating a functional, artful piece of furniture that comfortably fits a laptop computer or serves as hallway table. The table’s striking geometric panel creates a perfect negative space where legs can move freely behind the modesty panel with its curved, sculptural line.
The base and top are African Mahogany, an exotic wood with a deep reddish brown color. The tabletop is backed with American Black Walnut. A clear finish celebrates the rich color and grain of these woods.
As an active community supporter, Silent Rivers is pleased to donate this piece in support of our local Heart Ball for the American Heart Association.
