Our Process

ARCHd art is crafted by hand in Memphis, Tennessee, using an image transfer process.

No two pieces of ARCHd decor are ever the exact same. All images on wood and marble feature a distressed look — where the underlying white paint or marble surface shows through the image — with slight variations on the amount and location of distressing. This is a characteristic of ALL of our handmade art and is what makes each piece truly unique!

handmade image transfer process on wood and marble, close-up view of distressing

When we began ARCHd, we started with materials we had readily available: wood salvaged from neighborhood curbs and marble tiles from a local discounted overstock store. Our first pieces were cut with borrowed tools from our Dad and old wood from our parents’ demolished deck.

While we’ve grown from shopping our wood from the side of the street, each individual piece of ARCHd home decor is still crafted by hand in Memphis, Tennessee.

INSIDE OUR IMAGE TRANSFER PROCESS

A CLOSER LOOK: WOOD ART

We start with unfinished wood, cut it to size and sand all sides down to a smooth surface. Using an electric branding iron, we hand brand our logo onto the lower back of each piece of wood. The sides and back are coated in a rich stain, while the front is painted white.

We transfer our original photos and designs to the front surface by hand, using a gel medium. To transfer, images are laser-printed backwards on paper. A thin layer of gel medium is painted onto the white surface of the wood, with the paper applied directly above. Over time, the gel medium absorbs the ink and the paper is rubbed off by hand, leaving the image on the painted surface of the wood.

Once the art is transferred, the wood block is lightly sanded along the edges to provide a unique, distressed look, then sealed with a protective clear coat. All wood pieces 5” or larger include a hammered sawtooth backer for easy hanging.

A CLOSER LOOK: MARBLE COASTERS

For our marble tile coaster sets, we begin with 4” tiles of tumbled marble. Characteristics of the natural stone used for our coasters include variances in shade, color and marble pattern. The edges and backs of the tiles are roughed and antiqued.

We transfer our designs directly to the top face of the marble using the same transfer process as the wood. Once transferred, tiles are sealed with a protective clear coat to protect against condensation. The bottom of each tile is branded with a custom-design ARCHd label and includes small felt circles in each corner to prevent scratching against furniture and other surfaces. Sets are packaged together in clear/white branded boxes.

Handcrafted goods are not important to everyone, but we're thankful every day they are important to you.