Sponsored content
By Tommi Peters
Step into Owner Kim Turner’s showroom and your senses go into overdrive. The woodsy, earthy scent of various timbers envelop you as you take in the stunning markings and colorways found within the various types of lumber on display.
As he shares morsels of information about the various types of wood, his appreciation for nature that supports his livelihood is also evident.
He approximates that his timber is 90% green given that most of it is harvested from trees that have been retrieved from the bottoms of rivers or lakes, fallen after storms, or from developers that clear land.
The trees are then brought to his on-site saw mill, turned into planks or beams based upon client needs. The remnant wood shavings are even available for sale to horse-owners wishing to fill stalls.
Turner began accumulating knowledge and techniques as a subcontractor working for his dad, helping with additions to homes in Mountain Brook and Homewood. “I have sawdust in my veins,” he explains with a smile. “I learned how to use aged wood that would match the wood already in the homes. There’s no distinguishing between the old and the new in our projects.”
Turner started River Bottom in the basement of his home over thirty years ago. This experience now benefits River Bottom clients as he oversees the transformation of lumber into the custom beams and planks created for each project.
“Knowledge of the performance of the various types of wood in specific environments makes all the difference,” explains Turner. “And I have a lifetime of it.”
Ask Turner to describe his favorite project and you’ll be met with a moment of silence as he mentally reviews decades of work. With an expression of defeat, he declares it too difficult to decide. Instead, he produces his phone to begin scrolling through photos of recent projects like a proud father.
Projects include custom bunk beds, barn doors, flooring made from 150-year-old reclaimed barn wood, reclaimed oak flooring, curved beams, an array of ceilings and walls covered in various types of lumber, and refinished flooring.
If a tree that holds special memories should fall or have to be removed, River Bottom can capture the nostalgia by transforming the lumber into something new, such as wood paneling within the home or a beam for the mantel, or even a table top.
Turner summarizes with “We can introduce aged wood into a new home, make new wood look old, or make old wood look new.”
From harvesting fallen trees, milling timber on site, crafting planks and beams unique for each job, installation by skilled craftsmen, River Bottom Pine is truly full-service.
Visit RiverBottomPine.com for location and contact information.