As a firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service, Andy Kautza knows firsthand about the damage mountain pine beetles can cause. He splits his time between fighting fires from late spring until fall and making unique, modern furniture made from beetle-kill pine the rest of the year for his business, Boulder Elements.

We found this dining table ($2,400) in Kautza’s shop, and loved the blue staining (caused by a fungus introduced by the beetles). The sturdy wood is complemented by raw steel detail work on the sides and legs. (Delivery is available within 40 miles of Boulder.)

—Image courtesy of Andy Kautza

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