Salvaged Woods: History Made Anew
Inherent in the use of reclaimed woods is the potential to protect the Earth from further deforestation, however that’s not the only reason to consider salvaged wood products for your home or next remodeling project. Salvaging woods and other materials from old buildings destined for demolition is clearly a labor of love by those who seek to recover materials rich with history and for the homeowner wishing to impart a piece of history to their home.
Many of the wood floors being stripped from properties slated for deconstruction are unique in a way that modern woods can not be – many of those woods were allowed to grow old, and gain characteristics that are not found in today’s harvested woods which are often cut down when they reach a certain age. Woods with these age-imbued distinct markings and visual history have been in high demand. Initially as replacement floors, joists and beams in historical building restoration projects, and then in the luxury home market as home owners paid premiums for wood flooring salvaged from buildings or 100 year old logs. In some cases, rare, nearly extinct species of wood have been recovered from deconstructed properties. In the past, those woods along with other materials from scraped buildings and homes would find their way to landfills today they are a treasured gem awaiting salvage and reuse.
Reclaimed woods salvaged from homes, mills and other commercial buildings built before 1941 and with little historical significance are being transformed into new furniture thanks in part to the efforts of companies like Turning House Furniture. Turning House Furniture plans to debut its new line of Green furniture crafted from salvaged woods at the Spring 2009 Highpoint Market. The furniture line will consist of three collections (Summer House, Fresh Heritage and Belgian Modern) containing about 100 furniture pieces designed by Caroline Hipple and Dixon Bartlett.
