Refined Elements Review

I found Devin through an online search for live edge slabs that led me to some woodworking forums that recommended him. After looking through his website, Facebook page and then speaking to Devin it was a pretty easy decision to move forward with Refined Elements. The extreme attention to detail, his commitment to quality, the use of old school mortise and tenon joinery, and the nearly automotive grade finishing process really blows away anything you will find in a store even at higher price points. I also like that we got to pick our own slab and species of wood and totally custom design every aspect of the table.

In the era of Ikea and disposable MDF furniture it is nice to know there are still some real craftsmen left that really care about making something that will last for generations

Thanks Devin and Ray from Refined Elements - this table will be in our family for generations to come.

Words cannot fully express how impressed and grateful we are with Devin Ginther and Refined Elements! We were in the process of building our home and needed a large dining table and coffee table. After shopping around, we couldn t quite find the exact pieces we were looking for all from a size, quality, and aesthetic perspective. Searching online, we came across Refined Elements and contacted Devin. Not only did Devin have a nice inventory of black walnut slabs, but he also possessed the knowledge, skills, and finesse to create two gorgeous pieces of furniture for us. The moment we met Devin to discuss what we were looking for, we knew right then and there he was the right person. We presented him with the inspiration behind the base for the dining table and the coffee table. Devin was personally involved along every step of the way and engaged us to ensure that not one small detail was overlooked. He even provided us with a CAD rendering of the coffee table to validate the proportionality.

The black walnut slabs we selected have so much character in them something that cannot be replicated in many of those faux live edge dining tables you see stores carrying these days. These came from a standing dead walnut tree that they salvaged in Oklahoma. Devin was able to bring these pieces back to life in the form of our dining table. The coffee table was just as stunning, the perfect statement piece to center our living room around. When Devin delivered the pieces to us, we even noticed how he had already thought about the positioning of the pieces, which side should be facing which direction to highlight the piece s best angle in a room. He even educated us on the usage of bow ties and how it s not just cosmetic, but more so serves a purpose in stabilizing the wood.

These pieces are truly works of art it never grows old looking at them and each time you seem to pick up on another unique trait you hadn t noticed before. Our family will definitely cherish these pieces for many years to come. Urban wood is the way to go and Devin Ginther is the man to make your vision a reality! We are still in awe at how one person can combine quality, value, functionality, and aesthetics by breathing life into pieces that are not just looked at, but also used on a daily basis. Devin is now working on a third piece for us, a credenza for our study, and we can t wait to see how beautiful it will turn out!

Devin and his team at Refined Elements made a beautiful dining room table for my family and were amazing to work with start to finish. Devin is truly a craftsman and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for something unique and special for your home!

I should have written this review a long time ago but I guess better late then never! Devin made me a coffee table inspired by one I had seen at this high end store downtown... At the time I had just purchased a new home and was having to basically fill the entire space. Out of all the furniture I have purchased, the table that Devin made me is by far my favorite piece. He gave me a very special piece of wood that he was actually saving for himself that came from Michigan... I constantly get complemented on it and literally every time my father in law comes over he tries to buy it from me. Devin was a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend his work!

I purchased a big slab of Pecan for a floating bench and another smaller piece for a mantle and Devin & Brent were great to work with. They made cuts and mill work to meet my needs and even provided some great tips to help me with the finishing. They really care about their work and it shows.

I received my custom table from refined elements a couple of months ago. I was so pleased with it upon delivery; but as I have lived with it a couple of months I have grown to love it more! My husband and I knew we wanted a live edge table and I did a ton of research of many companies. We had very specific details we knew we wanted and needed some guidance on other aspects. Devin with Refined Elements went above and beyond to fulfill our request. From the day we met him to delivery, he was there for us. He listened to our desires and always answered our questions. The end result is a true masterpiece. Devin s passion for saving trees and creating something beautiful is only matched by his crafmanship. Our table is original, unique and absolutely perfect for us. I would recommend Refined Elements to anyone looking for a heirloom quality piece of furniture.

Devin created a beautiful custom pedestal live edge table for our family. It perfectly fits our kitchen island banquette and is now the centerpiece of our family room and our family life. We just love it!

I had an excellent experience doing business with Refined Elements LLC. Devin the owner went about and beyond, i would totally recommend them.

Devin built a beautiful dining table exactly to our specifications. He was a pleasure to work with and we are very pleased with the finished product. Highly recommend!

Devin and his team are excellent craftsmen. They took a couple of slabs of black walnut and turned them into a wonderful breakfast room table. They took my dream and made it reality. I now have a 52 inch by 30 inch black walnut table with live edges and rich deep wood grain. Will add a picture if I can figure out how. Great quality takes time, so if you use them don't expect it quickly. I appreciated the care and thought that went into my table. Now that I know what they can do, I am starting to dream of my next piece.

Outstanding workmanship, true artists! Unique and beautiful pieces of work. Devin and Brent were great to work with.

We are in love with our new table and the would recommend Refined Elements to anyone wanting something more than just a piece of furniture.

They salvage trees that were destroyed in storms/droughts and give them life in a new way. Our table was made from a tree in Brackettville from 1904. It is a beautiful piece of art and a super sturdy table.

Could not be happier! Thank you Devon and team!

Incredible!! We ordered our table from hundreds of miles away all over email... my husband thought i was crazy at first! But not only was the customer service fantastic, the final product far exceeded all of my expectations and hopes :) everything about Devin and his Refined Elements team is 5 star!

Refined Elements worked with us to build exactly the table we were looking for. Devin spent a lot of time answering our questions over email as well as letting us swing by his shop for a tour. We got to pick out which slabs we wanted to use and Refined Elements turned them into a work of art. These guys really know how to bring out the best in the wood and highlight all of the natural features. The table we purchased is beautiful - my wife and I couldn't be happier.

The quality of the build is also outstanding. The table top is reinforced to prevent movement over time. The legs, which Refined Elements can also custom order/manufacture, are fastened to the table top with 12 thick bolts - the legs on our table are cast iron dipped in molten bronze. The table top is fitted with female threaded receivers for the bolts to make assembly/disassembly a breeze (Or as easy as can be for a 300+ pound table). This table is going to be a part of our house for a very long time - for generations most likely.

Since we live close by Devin and another employee delivered the table to our house in their truck. The table is far too large to make it up the corner of our stairs so I had to hire a crane to bring it in the french doors on our second floor balcony. Devin not only delivered the table but helped me work with the crane operator to get the table lifted up and into my house which was no small task. All of this in the sleet and freezing rain - the guys at Refined Elements really go the extra mile to make sure everything is perfect for their customers.

Previous to working with Refined Elements we purchased a live edge table from a big chain store and it was delivered with flimsy hollow legs that were just screwed into the table top - no pilot holes or anything provided! It was a single slab - but the wood on the underside was heavily damaged by termites. It was a mess. The build quality you get from Refined Elements is so much better than any chain store will provide.

Had the pleasure of meeting Devin and Brent a couple weeks back when we were searching for quality, fair priced mills to mill wood for our business.
We had visited one other recognized mill in the surrounding Austin area in efforts to find a mill we will establish an ongoing relationship with.

The difference was vast! From the moment we called Texas Urban Saw Mill/Refined Elements, these guys were super friendly, down to earth, and an open book willing to help in any way.

Devin and Brent proved they truly live by their guiding principle: People First
When we pulled up to the mill these guys went out of their way to greet us. They even took us on a short tour of the shop and explained various aspects of their operation.
This was the total opposite of our experience at the other mill where everything felt a little secretive, the communication felt a little weird, the prices were outlandish.

We, at Austin Live Edge, fully support, highly recommend and strongly suggest you you give Devin and Brent a visit over at Refined Elements and Tx Urban Sawmill.

Wow! Refined Elements produced an absolutely stunning custom coffee table for our new house. 2 inch thick solid walnut, urban re-use lumber. I cannot stress the build quality and use of classic box joinery. The finish is impeccable. The entire process was fantastic, and Devin was very interactive and eager to address any questions or concerns along the way. We even received a 3D drawing prior to creation of the work piece. We were educated throughout the process and certainly have gained a lot of respect for the level of effort & attention to detail. It is wonderful to know that a family oriented, handcrafted, proudly made in the USA custom furniture business like this exists. We continue to send our family & friends to Refined Elements and hope to purchase more urban wood furniture in the future.

The best thing about my experience with Refined Elements was dealing with Devin himself. There's a certain degree of confidence that comes with handling communications with the owner of the business. Devin built my office desk. It has turned out to be quite the conversation piece. I never start a conversation about the desk but people who see it for the first time never fail to mention the uniqueness of the design and construction. Devin was open to my suggestions but always shared his opinions regarding what he felt was best based on his education and experience. He did this in a very tactful and considerate manner. I highly recommend him.

Devin and the team at Refined Elements created a coffee table for our family room. He used beautiful salvaged wood and created a custom table that fits our room perfectly. We would definitely work with him again!

Devin was incredible. Easy to work with, highly professional and prompt with responses. The finished product was amazing and he is a true artisan. He went above and beyond on the project.

we're blown away. wanted a large unfinished surfaced slab and devin had exactly what we were looking for. a hurricane harvey rescue from goliad texas, nearly 90 years old. even engraved those details as a certificate on the bottom for us. very cool. we toured the shop and he has some beautiful pieces in work. will definitely go back for a custom dining table.