Sustainable Projects: Working with Reclaimed Wood

These days, reclaimed wood can come from a vast number of sources, like boats, barns, sheds, mills, and even your own remodeled home. You can even find reclaimed wood for free if you know where to look. The Northeast has a plethora of barns and farmhouses surrounding the landscape, and local excavation companies can also be a viable source. What’s more, distinct age marks visible on reclaimed wood add personality, character, and warmth.

Douglas Fir and Oak are wonderful options because they are hard and durable, but you will still need to watch out for unusable pieces as well as inspect them to determine their condition. Finding reclaimed wood that is in good condition is key because damaged wood can require extra steps. Cutting and sanding the old boards can be tricky, but the results are well worth the required effort.

In the kitchen of our barn restoration project, you can see how we left in the original beams. Timber beams are attention-grabbing features that can be personalized to suit your lifestyle. See how one of the beams below doubles as a pot rack.

A lofted area in this living space is accessible by a rustic, farmhouse style staircase. This design technique is a unique alternative to a classic staircase and beautifully compliments the surrounding woodwork.

Reclaimed wood doesn’t need rough edges to be straightforward and picturesque. The pleasantly smooth wood showcased in this Boston office has been sanded and waxed to a luxuriously glossy finish.

In this dining room, reclaimed wood is clearly the star. It has been incorporated in abundance and has a sense of rawness to match the rural feel of the space. Entirely white walls keep the balance and make the wood look even more striking.

This view of the kitchen, dining area, and lofted space show just how much emphasis was placed on staying true to the innate character of the reclaimed wood. Rather than try and overdecorate, we opted to keep the surrounding architecture simple, with small interior windows and open spaces.

Contact TMS Architects for architectural services in New England.