RECLAIMING BEAUTY – THE NATURAL WAY

A design trend that is slowly rearing its beautifully eclectic head in a chic form is the use of old wood in a new way, re purposed wood – or is it refurbished? No, I think it’s recycled and reused wood, but whatever you call it this trend is here to stay as it is good for the environment and even better for our trend-stalking bank balances.

The colour of the bed frame and the table is lovely; the table (chest) looks like a piece of history that was discovered on the shore of a beautiful, slow and vintage seaside village where everyone knows everyone, then bought at the town’s end of season sale by some city slicker designer.

This wall panelling eliminates the need for a headboard it’s like a built-in headboard. It would be great in a loft – because I am of the opinion that lofts make anything look good, the more eclectic the better – or in a holiday home where the mood is all about letting decor flow. If you don’t quite fancy having an entire wood-panelled wall, then panelling the size you want your headboard to be would be the way to go.

This box staircase is an inspired idea! It reminds me of when I used to build Lego towers as a kid, and it represents the essence of re purposing wood: It doesn’t have to be perfect or look new. In fact, if it does look new get to sanding to give it that vintage feel.

Dining tables make the best re purposed wood furniture by far. The varnished finish on this table gives that extra touch of chic while the steel legs are in line with the room’s industrial minimalism theme.

This table brings refurbished wood into a formal dining room and makes it work, I think a good quality varnished antique door could make a great table top in line with this one.

Designer Isabel Quiroga has done a few projects that involved repurposed and reassembling wood furnishings.

So, the moral of this blog post? Collect some wood, get some sand paper and some varnish, and see what comes out of it.