10 Creative Uses of Reclaimed Wood
The popular myth claims that cats have nine lives—well, what about a well-worn plank of wood?
There's virtually no end to the number of reincarnations a piece of this time-honored building material can make. Here are a few creative examples of careful reclamation—from walls and floors to furniture and artwork.
Top-Floor Williamsburg Loft
"It was a natural choice," says Adrian of using reclaimed and rescued wood. "I didn’t want to chop down a whole lot of trees." The walls and ceiling are lined with planks of butternut harvested from diseased trees in Vermont.
Photo: Kevin Cooley
The library is lined in reclaimed spotted gum that Maynard says "brings with it wisdom from its previous life." A stained glass window by Leigh Schellekens makes the contemplative room feel like a domestic chapel.
Photo: Peter Bennetts
A reclaimed-wood fireplace is a defining feature in this living room.
Photo: Robert Canfield
The exterior, which was taken down to the studs and rebuilt, pairs the original concrete block with reclaimed hemlock, which clads two sides of the upstairs addition.
Photo: Michael Friberg
The dining table in the Suttles and Shah residence is made from two old Mexican doors.
Photo: Brent Humphreys
The kitchen features a reclaimed-wood installation by artist Blake Sloane from Hyattsville, Maryland.
Photo Mario Pareja, Umar Pareja Architecture
Sun terrance sculptures were created from reclaimed wood found in Jalisco, Mexico.
Photo courtesy Patrón
Developer Doug Burgum opted for locally-sourced reclaimed wood from a demolished barn to build sections of the pergola covering the cooking space.
Photo by David Bowman
San Francisco firm Lundberg Design built this cabin out of reclaimed materials, including the exterior redwood, which has aged into an elegant, ashen gray. In a past life, the pool acted as a water tank for livestock.
Photo: JD Peterson
The goal of the renovation was to get the most out of every square inch, since there was no way to expand beyond the apartment’s historic envelope. Always-open double doors—stripped down to their original wood—connect the railroad-style parlors to create an open, loft-like feel.
Photo courtesy Mork-Ulnes Architects
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