Pacific Beach’s English pine importer Yorkshire Pines helps customers re-imagine the uses of pine furnishings. Most often associated with farm tables or television armoires, the comfortable lines of pine are constructed from pure wood and are ideal for any San Diego home. “San Diego has a comfortable lifestyle [that fits within] English pines’ interesting and traditional lines,” said Shirley Zylstra, Yorkshire Pines’ sales manager. The large showroom on Santa Fe Street mixes traditional English pine with modern pieces. Opened in the ’90s, Yorkshire Pines’ spacious interior offers customers the option to pick and choose English pine or the furniture that complements it. All of the pieces are comfortable and will accessorize any 21st century home, though traditional English pine furniture is anything but modern. “All [pine] designs are comfortable and simple, and the perfect definition of recycled furniture,” Zylstra said. English pine is best when 100 years old or older, said Zylstra, though pieces still “fit into a lifestyle of the 21st century as they had in the 18th century.” Historical pieces are situated in the showroom alongside modern designs like Lee Industries upholstery, Somerset Bay’s painted furniture and Modern History’s wood. Owner Kara Busch imports about one container a year (a reduction from four following the economic downturn), bringing in items she’d want in her own home. The warehouse often caters to local interior designers, as Busch is one herself, hosting American Society of Interior Design (ASID) events in the large warehouse that reflects timeless English country. “English pine is a unique product in comparison to American pines,” Zylstra said. “People are very attracted to the clean look as it blends in with almost any decorating style.” Busch purchased her first piece of English pine, a desk, while in college. After switching her major to interior design, she apprenticed under a designer and took her own concept to San Diego in 1991. She now travels abroad several times a year, seeking out retailers in small countryside towns and villages. A lot has changed in the business in 18 years, especially thanks to the Internet, Zylstra said. At first, the search would be a scavenger hunt of sorts, Zylstra said. Today, Yorkshire Pines has constant communication with retailers in England and their imported pine is furnishing homes around the county.