Clay Aronson

Clay’s love for woodworking was instilled early in life by his grandfather, and his natural talent for the craft eventually became his livelihood. With a degree in Architecture from Iowa State University and formal training a 19th century woodworking shop, Clay founded Aronson Woodworks. Passionate about crafting furniture from reclaimed urban lumber, he coordinates with local tree removal companies and the City of Des Moines to salvage Ash trees threatened by the infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer, so that they may be used for a higher purpose than mulch, firewood, or refuse for a landfill. In addition, Clay discovered a new way to finish solid wood furniture called CLAIZE. This revolutionary patented technique is pushing the boundaries of how the design world views natural wood grain. Clay is constantly testing, tweaking, and evolving his processes - whether it's a new way to use solid wood joinery, or introducing new finishes - he is happiest when he has discovered something interesting and unique to offer his clients and the design community.