Local Wood is a Vibe!

Long Island's very own Walt Whitman and why local wood is totally still a thing

“Isle of the salty shore and breeze and brine!” — Walt Whitman, Paumanok

Walt Whitman saw something special in this place. He walked these shores, breathed this air, and called it Paumanok — the old Lenape name for Long Island. He kept coming back to it his whole life, as if the place itself had a vibe he couldn’t shake.

I think about this when we’re working outside, especially in the woods.

Wine enthusiasts have a word for it — terroir. The idea that climate, soil, and terrain shape what grows there. The same grape in Burgundy and the same grape in Napa do not become the same wine. The place is in the wine.^*

Maybe the same is true of wood.

The North Shore of Long Island was shaped by glaciers at the end of the last ice age, leaving glacial soil and a mild coastal climate. The Gold Coast estates preserved vast tracts of forest and planted rare species from around the world. Then they just let the trees grow.

The perfect conditions for monumental specimens. Shu Swamp in Mill Neck has old-growth tulip trees — the biggest are estimated at 350 to 600 years old, candidates for the oldest and largest trees on Long Island. These giants were already hundreds of years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed. Let that sink in.

One of the many ancient tulip trees in Shu Swamp.

The walnut we’ve salvaged from backyards and construction sites in Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, and Locust Valley has some of the richest grain we’ve ever seen — deep chocolate with threads of red and purple, and the occasional board flashing a full rainbow of color.

Can you find wood like this elsewhere? Sure.

But there’s something special about using wood from where you live. Maybe local wood is just a vibe.

The author posing with a large walnut slab, June 2026. This slab was sourced from a backyard tree in Sea Cliff, New York that was felled by Hurricane Isaias. The logs from this site were milled and air dried for over five years. At the time of this writing they are being kiln-dried.

The Place is in the Wood

Local wood isn’t just our preference — it’s our starting point. When a Long Island tree becomes available, we pay attention. That's how our best live edge dining tables get made- from wood that grows right here.

The place is in the wood.

If you want furniture made from Long Island wood, let’s talk.

sounddesignsny.com | joe@sounddesignsny.com

Sea Cliff, New York, August 2020: The downed walnut tree was carefully tagged with fluorescent orange ribbons. These marked sections to be cut and salvaged.

August 2020: A local tree service was brought in to remove debris from the downed tree and salvage logs for the sawmill.

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Steve from Terrapin Sawmill* in Setauket milling an ash log Over the years, Steve has milled many logs for us, including our first haul.

July 2023: The author inspects walnut slabs that are still air drying, some three years after being milled.

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April 2026: Live edge slabs so large you need a forklift to move them.

Joel's outdoor table made using wood sourced from the Sea Cliff tree. The lime green color in the center is lucite which is recessed between the slabs and selected to match the outdoor cushions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you plant trees?

Yes — starting in 2026, we’re committing to plant one fruit or nut tree for every dining table we sell. All of them going in the ground on Long Island’s North Shore in November 2026. We’re looking at black walnut, paw paw, and American persimmon — all deer-resistant, all native or naturalized, all genuinely useful. Fruit for people. Nuts for wildlife. Roots for the soil. We build from trees. It felt right to give some back.

Paw paw fruit growing in Suffolk County, NY. The taste is kind of like a cross between a banana and a mango. Believe it or not, this fruit is native to the Eastern US.

Is local wood actually better, or is that just a marketing story?

It’s more than a story. The Gold Coast estates didn’t just let native trees grow, they planted rare specimens from around the world. Many of the original trees are still here today. So far we’ve found katsura, originally native to Japan, along with honey locust and others. You’re not going to stumble across katsura at a lumber yard. The Gold Coast grew some genuinely extraordinary trees, and when one comes down, we pay attention.

Close up of katsura wood.

What does “locally sourced” actually mean for you?

It means we actively look for trees that came down on Long Island. We always keep an eye out after storms, when we drive past construction sites, or hear a chainsaw running in the neighborhood. We leave no stone unturned to find the best material.

Do you only use local wood?

We use local wood whenever we can. We also source sustainable American hardwoods when a project calls for it and occasionally use exotic woods when we have a special request.

Can you use a tree from my property?

Maybe, but only for the right tree. It comes down to species, size, and condition, so send us some photos and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s worth pursuing.

What species of wood grows well on Long Island?

Black walnut, cherry, white oak, elm, and tulip are all native or naturalized here and grow beautifully in this climate. The walnut we’ve pulled from North Shore backyards has some of the richest grain we’ve ever worked with — deep chocolate, threads of red and purple, occasional flashes of full color. The Gold Coast soil does something to these trees.

Where are you located?

Our shop is at 40 Pratt Oval in Glen Cove, on Long Island’s North Shore — inside the historic Pratt Oval building. Right in the heart of the Gold Coast, which is exactly where a lot of our wood comes from.

The Historic Pratt Oval, circa 1930s. Our shop is located in the second structure on the right. The left side of the property was demolished in the mid-20th century.

Can I visit the wood shop to see wood in person?

Yes! You’re invited to visit. Please click here to schedule an appointment.

Why are you called Sound Designs?

I studied woodworking near Puget Sound in Seattle, WA before returning home to Long Island. When I started Sound Designs in Glen Cove, not far from Long Island Sound, it was pretty easy to choose this name. Read the origin story here.

— Joe Ferrara, Founder, Sound Designs New York

 *Terrapin Sawmill, Setauket, NY | (631) 766-0121 | Website coming soon