Lost and Found: Stories of Rescued Wood, Stone, and Metal

What does all custom furniture have in common?  Every custom item has a unique story behind it: the story of the inspiration, commission, and construction of exactly one and only one made-to-order piece.  Custom furniture made from reclaimed wood or other recycled materials also has “pre-histories:” stories of past lives and uses that are sometimes still visible in the materials themselves.

The works by CustomMade artisans featured below have another thing in common.  Before they were built, they were rescued from oblivion.  Some of the reclaimed wood, stone, and metal used in these items came from dumpsters, rivers, or the artisans’ own workshops after a piece was broken.  Whether by chance, a flash of inspiration, or a determined effort, these artisans gave new life to materials that would otherwise have been lost.

This modern revision of a traditional Queen Anne lowboy by Pernt was made from lumber rescued from the dumpsters at a building renovation site in Brooklyn.  The piece reflects this convergence of a crisp design with wood of great character.  The imperfections of the wood are highlighted, not hidden, with butterfly wedges and patches of contrasting wood, and the drawer dovetailing also contrasts the black walnut wood with the fir exterior.

Lowboy by Pernt at CustomMade.com

Artisan Michael Prettenhofer of Nevada describes his passion for recycling: “The only things I buy are hardware items, glass and glue and screws. I get my material from trash piles at construction sites, dumpsters, pallets and crates and sometimes from the side of the road where someone has dumped something.” He built this striking stone bed with recycled wood from signposts and marble and granite from dumpsters.

Stone Bed by Michael Prettenhofer at CustomMade.com

Lumber can also be salvaged from rivers and other waterways. Everlasting Woods created this bench from black walnut and maple wood pulled from the Kennecbec River in Maine.  Artisan Ted DeMers finds inspiration in the beauty of his materials and in the tree’s kodama, the Japanese word for “spirit of the tree.”  He strives to bring “a second life” to the wood he uses in his furniture.

River Maple Bench by Everlasting Woods at CustomMade.com

Even pieces that may be broken in the custom building process can find their way back into a piece.  Staples Cabinet Makers from Massachusetts built this grate armoire from reclaimed pine floorboards and a metal grate, which had been broken and discarded until inspiration struck and it was reworked into the design of this multi-purpose cabinet.

Grate Armoire by Staples Cabinet Makers at CustomMade.com

Find a CustomMade artisan near you for your next custom furniture project and request that reclaimed wood or other recycled materials be used in its construction.  You’ll get a unique, eco-friendly piece with a great backstory.