DEAR TIM: I’m getting ready to build a large room addition that needs a beam to support the floor joists. I’ve been told that a wood beam will work, but I’ve always seen steel I-beams in other houses.

Many brands today are creating furniture from reclaimed wood. But at Smaram, a Kozhikode-based firm, the terms ‘traditional craftsmanship’ and ‘timeless pieces’ are given importance. The word ‘smaram’ ...