Designers Jason Horvath, Manny Flaherty and David Gaynor, along with product developer Maria Cristina Rueda, comprise Uhuru. The small, Brooklyn-based firm combines Shaker furniture philosophies with modern sensibilities, resulting in pieces that are both folksy and contemporary.

Even more interestingly, Uhuru operates like furniture makers of old that harvested their wood from local forests--but Uhuru's forest, in this case, is Manhattan:

One of the materials we are using most right now is reclaimed Heart Pine. This first growth wood, which is virtually extinct due to over harvesting a century ago, is extracted out of buildings being taken down in NYC. Not only does it have a beautiful grain and a rich color but it really is one of the most local materials available to furniture builders in New York City.

Take a gander at Uhuru's work here.

>>View all NY Design Week posts