Parker has approved every piece that left this shop. But once it's in your home, it's yours — and it'll respond to how you treat it. Natural wood isn't fragile. It's alive, and it behaves like it. These are the things worth knowing.
A Parker & Bark piece is not manufactured furniture. It came from a tree that spent decades responding to its environment — and it will keep doing that, quietly, in your home. That is not a problem. It is the point.
Here's what you'll see over time, and why it's a good sign:
The short version: If your piece looks slightly different than it did when it arrived, it's probably doing exactly what it should.
Most of the time, a dry microfiber cloth is all you need. For spills or stickiness, a cloth dampened with water works. For actual grime, a few drops of mild dish soap diluted in water — wipe, then wipe again with plain water to remove any residue.
What to avoid:
Parker's rule: Treat it like a good leather boot — maintain it occasionally, don't abuse it, and it gets better with age.
Bark that has been stabilized and sealed will hold for years with no intervention. Occasionally, a small section may release — this is normal. The attachment between bark and wood changes slightly as moisture levels shift over time.
If a piece releases: you can re-bond it with wood glue (press firmly, tape until dry), or leave it as the natural patina it's becoming. Both are fine. Neither means the piece is failing.
Where bark was removed, the live edge is sealed during finishing. This edge is the most visually active part of the piece — the grain character, sapwood coloring, and natural contour are all exposed here.
Keep this edge lightly oiled as part of your regular finish refresh. It will deepen in color over time, which is the intended outcome.
Every 6–12 months for tabletops with heavy daily use. Less often for side tables or pieces that don't see much contact. You'll know it's time when the surface starts to look dull or feels slightly dry to the touch.
What to use: Food-safe mineral oil (available at any pharmacy or kitchen store) or a beeswax-based wood finish like Howard Feed-N-Wax. Do not use olive oil, vegetable oil, or any cooking oil — they go rancid in the wood.
How to do it:
This process takes about 20 minutes. It adds years to how the piece looks. Worth it every time.
Parker & Bark pieces are sourced and built in Augusta, Georgia — one of the most humid regions in the South. That means the wood was raised in high humidity and is acclimated to it. If your home is in a humid climate, your piece is going to be very happy.
If you're in a drier climate or run the heat heavily in winter, here's what to keep in mind:
Southern hardwoods are built for this. The trees grew through Augusta summers and winters for decades. A little indoor climate variation is not a problem for wood that started life like this.
Wood is forgiving. Most surface damage is reversible with a little attention.
I built it. I can help fix it. If something happens that you're not sure how to address — reach out. That's not a warranty clause, it's just how this works. Send a message →
Parker & Bark tables are not made to be replaced in five years. They're made from hundred-year-old trees and finished to go another hundred. The care guide you just read exists because the piece is worth maintaining — and maintaining it is how you own something instead of just using it.
Refinish it when it needs it. Fix it when something goes wrong. Hand it to someone who'll keep doing the same. The tree earned that legacy. So did the work that turned it into furniture.