Our Story

Rooted in Tradition. Made for the Way We Live Today.

Heritage Natural Finishes began in Oregon in April 2007, originally under the name Land Ark Northwest. Founder Autumn Peterson was looking for a better approach to wood finishing—one that relied on natural materials, traditional knowledge, and a thoughtful consideration of both human health and the environment.

That search led to the remarkable world of traditional wood finishes: pure oils, natural waxes, plant-derived ingredients, and time-tested methods used by craftspeople for generations. In 2008, the business became Heritage Natural Finishes, a name that reflected a growing commitment to preserving and sharing these practical traditions.

Nearly twenty years later, that same curiosity and respect for natural materials continue to guide our work. What began as a search for better wood-finishing products has grown into a small Oregon business serving woodworkers, timber framers, craftspeople, builders, and homeowners across the country.

We believe that caring for wood is about more than protecting a surface. It's about honoring the material, understanding how it works, and helping the things we build endure for generations.

The Wisdom of Natural Materials

Wood is a remarkable material. Every species has its own character, every board tells a story, and every timber carries something of the place where it grew. We believe a good finish should honor those qualities rather than disguise them.

Our products are developed around traditional finishing ingredients, including pure tung oil, natural waxes, and carefully selected plant-derived materials. We appreciate the simplicity of these ingredients, but we're equally interested in the science behind how they work. Traditional knowledge and modern research have much to offer one another, and we believe the best products come from understanding both.

Quality has always been central to our work. We take pride in selecting our ingredients carefully, maintaining consistency in our formulations, and making finishes that bring out the natural character of wood while offering practical protection for everyday use.

We also believe that sustainability is an ongoing responsibility rather than a label. It means considering where our materials come from, how they're produced, how long the things we build will last, and how our choices affect the world around us. We're especially proud of our relationships with American producers and suppliers who help keep traditional materials and manufacturing knowledge alive, from domestically grown tung oil to pine-derived ingredients rooted in a long history of American craftsmanship.

These relationships matter to us. Behind every ingredient is another producer, another craft, and another body of knowledge worth preserving.

More Than a Wood Finish

Over the years, we've had the privilege of working with people building extraordinary timber frames, restoring historic structures, creating beautiful furniture, finishing floors, and caring for the homes and buildings that matter to them. Some of our customers have been using our products for years, and others are discovering natural oil finishes for the first time.

We understand that every project represents an investment of time, skill, materials, and often a good deal of heart. We also know that working with natural materials doesn't always go exactly as planned. Different wood species, climates, application techniques, and environmental conditions can present their own challenges, and we believe that helping customers work through those challenges is part of our responsibility.

We're a small business, and personal service remains an important part of who we are. When you contact Heritage Natural Finishes, you're reaching people who know our products, care about your projects, and genuinely want to help you succeed.

We also believe that good knowledge should be shared. Through our growing library of articles, technical resources, and application guidance, we're working to make traditional wood-finishing knowledge more accessible to professionals and homeowners alike. We're continually learning from research, our suppliers, our own experience, and the many talented craftspeople who use our products.

The exchange of knowledge is one of the things we value most about this work.

Another Chapter: Summer Beam Books

The values that shaped Heritage Natural Finishes have also found expression in another Oregon business, Summer Beam Books, an independent bookstore with locations in Philomath and Yachats.

At first glance, a wood-finishing company and a bookstore might seem like rather different endeavors, but they share much of the same spirit. Both are rooted in an appreciation for traditional knowledge, creativity, the natural world, and the importance of human connection. Both celebrate curiosity, craftsmanship, and the satisfaction of discovering something meaningful.

Summer Beam Books brings together thoughtfully chosen books, traditional craft, and welcoming places to gather. Inspired by the landscapes and creative communities of Oregon, the bookstores reflect a belief that books can open doors to new ideas while helping us reconnect with the world around us.

Where Heritage Natural Finishes helps people care for the materials that shape our homes and buildings, Summer Beam Books offers another way to nurture the ideas, creativity, and communities that give those places meaning.

They're two independent businesses, but they share a common heart: an appreciation for things made with care, knowledge worth passing along, and the places and relationships that enrich our lives.

Visit Summer Beam Books to learn more.

The People Behind Heritage

Heritage Natural Finishes is a small, dedicated team, and each person plays an important part in the work we do. From helping customers choose the right finish to producing, packaging, and shipping our products, we take pride in the care and attention that go into the everyday workings of our business.

We believe good customer service is about more than answering questions or filling orders. It's about listening, sharing what we know, finding solutions, and treating people with kindness and respect.

Meet Our Team

Autumn Peterson | Founder & Owner

Autumn founded Heritage Natural Finishes in 2007 with an interest in traditional materials, natural wood-finishing methods, and more thoughtful approaches to manufacturing. Her work continues to focus on product development, quality, education, and the relationships between craftsmanship, science, and the natural world.

Alongside Heritage, Autumn owns Summer Beam Books and remains involved in the timber-framing community, where traditional building knowledge, craftsmanship, and stewardship continue to inspire her work.

Laurie Macrae | Customer Service & Technical Support

Laurie is an important part of the personal service that makes Heritage Natural Finishes special. She works closely with customers to help them navigate product choices, application techniques, and the many questions that arise during a finishing project. Whether someone is undertaking a small project at home or working through a more involved application, Laurie brings care, patience, and thoughtful attention to helping people find the right solutions.

Ziggy Liolia | Customer Service & Technical Support

Ziggy helps customers understand our products, explore application options, and troubleshoot finishing challenges. He brings technical curiosity and a practical approach to customer support, along with a willingness to investigate questions and share what he learns. Ziggy has also contributed to Heritage's educational articles, helping us make useful finishing knowledge available to a broader audience.

Milo Roberson | Production Manager

Milo oversees our production operations, helping ensure that the finishes we make meet our standards for quality and consistency. From managing production processes and materials to keeping our manufacturing work organized, Milo plays an essential role in bringing our products from carefully selected ingredients to finished goods ready for our customers.

Trudy Stowe | Bookkeeping

Trudy manages the bookkeeping and financial details that help keep Heritage Natural Finishes running smoothly. Her work provides essential support behind the scenes, allowing the rest of the team to focus on production, customer service, and the many moving parts of a small manufacturing business.

Our Store & Fulfillment Team

Behind every Heritage Natural Finishes order are two wonderful team members, plus Autumn's mom (!), who help keep our store and daily operations running smoothly. From welcoming customers who stop by the shop and helping them find just what they need, to carefully packing and shipping orders across the country, they bring warmth, care, and attention to detail to everything they do. They're an essential part of the Heritage experience, and we're enormously grateful for the dedication, good humor, and pride they bring to their work every day.

Together, our team brings a variety of skills and experiences to Heritage Natural Finishes, united by a commitment to good products, useful knowledge, and the people who depend on us.

Looking Forward, Honoring What Came Before

Nearly two decades after Heritage Natural Finishes began, our purpose remains much the same: to make exceptional wood finishes, preserve useful traditional knowledge, support the people who work with wood, and conduct our business with care for people and the natural world.

We're proud of the materials and methods that inspired us, but we're not interested in standing still. There's always more to learn, whether from scientific research, the experience of a skilled craftsperson, a challenging customer project, or the quiet lessons that come from working with wood ourselves.

We believe the best way to honor tradition is to keep it alive—to use it, question it, improve upon it, and pass it forward.

Thank you for being part of our story and for supporting the work we love.

— Autumn and the Heritage Natural Finishes Team