Founder
Pavel Nikolov
Pavel Nikolov is the founder of KORENA. With a background in software engineering, he built the phone-based capture system KORENA uses to record each slab. He measures slabs himself in partner yards across Bulgaria and Europe, and writes about buying slabs, measurement, moisture, and EUDR provenance from direct yard experience.
Articles
Published guides
Is mineral oil food safe? Grades and wooden board care
Check the oil's grade and intended use, then follow the application steps: food-contact suitability belongs to the product and the finished surface.
FinishingHow to restore a dry, grey or cracked cutting board
Inspect the wood before treating it, clean and dry it fully, then restore dry areas with oil; cracks need a separate judgement about repair.
FinishingBoard butter vs oil: do you need both?
Oil dry wood first, then add a thin beeswax balm for a water-resistant satin surface, using the wood's appearance and water beads as your guide.
FinishingBest oil for cutting boards: how the main options compare
Purified mineral oil suits regular board care; compare it with cooking oils and curing finishes before choosing what goes on your kitchen wood.
FinishingHow to oil a wooden cutting board (and how often)
Oil clean, dry wood on every face and the end grain, give it time to absorb, then wipe off the excess and check its condition each month.
How to Buy a Hardwood Slab in Europe
A practical checklist for choosing, comparing and receiving an individually measured hardwood slab from a European seller.
European Walnut Slab Buying Guide
How to assess the colour, dimensions, moisture, thickness and price of a European walnut slab before buying it online.
What Is a Wood Passport? A Per-Piece Timber Record
A wood passport connects one physical slab to its measurements, moisture reading, origin, photographs and provenance records.
EUDR Timber Buying Checklist for Furniture Makers
A practical EUDR supplier checklist covering species, harvest origin, legality, DDS references and the link between each slab and its records.
European Oak Slab Buying Guide
How to assess the size, drying, movement, grain, finish and price of a European oak slab before buying online.
What a Hardwood Slab Costs in Europe
A practical guide to comparing walnut, oak, and other slab prices by area, thickness, drying, work remaining, and landed cost.
EUDR for Hardwood Buyers in Europe
Plain language on EUDR dates, roles, due diligence, geolocation and the records to ask for before buying hardwood slabs online.
Dining-Table Slab Size Guide
Work from room clearance, seat count, live-edge width and trimming allowance before choosing a dining-table slab online.
Why Wood Moisture Changes in Transit, and Why That Is Normal
A slab can read differently on arrival because wood exchanges moisture with air. Learn what is normal and what to check first.
What Is EUDR? Why Wood Traceability Matters in Europe
EUDR is changing online wood buying: buyers need to know where each slab grew, who cut it, and how it was dried.