Reclaimed wood is trending for its eco-friendly charm and warmth | Real Estate

As a design staple that has grown thanks to the modern farmhouse look, reclaimed wood and its warm appeal will continue into 2024 and beyond. Interior designers say they are finding new places and ways to use this sustainable feature.

“All reclaimed wood adds charm, texture, and dimension to a space,” says Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of New York design studio Arsight. “It's beyond the surface, it's beneath the surface. It's about the story. Reclaimed wood in 2024 combines the ancient and the modern. Chic yet comfortable with rustic wood with a modern, glossy touch Please imagine what it looks like.”

“Eco-luxury is here,” says Kropovinsky. “Reclaimed wood, energy-efficient lamps and eco-friendly fabrics combine to create a sustainable style.”

Michelle Minch, chief designer officer at Moving Mountains Design & Staging in Pasadena, California, sees the addition of reclaimed wood as part of the biophilic design trend, or incorporating natural elements throughout the space. He explains that some people think it's part of the design. Reclaimed teak driftwood coffee tables and more are some of her favorite additions to living rooms.

“It makes us feel more connected to the natural world,” Minch says. “Reclaimed wood often comes with a history attached to it, and we can live in that story. Using recycled materials is not only an environmentally friendly practice, but also used in furniture, art, etc. It also gives the work and accessories a handmade feel.”

Here are some ways homeowners can add reclaimed wood to their interior and exterior designs to bring an eco-friendly feel to their spaces.

Homeowners can use reclaimed wood planks and flooring wherever their imagination takes them, says Steven Skutelsky, managing partner of PID Floors, a family-owned hardwood flooring company in New York City. . PID Floors recently opened its flagship store.

“A big design trend we've been seeing with a lot of our clients lately is going beyond the flooring world and using flooring in really innovative ways,” Skuterski says. “We see clients applying reclaimed flooring to ceilings, walls, and custom cabinetry. Two of his products that look great on ceilings and floors are natural colors like Lima and natural colors like Xenia. It is a beautiful greige color.

Greg Ross, senior interior designer at Carbon Shack Design in Los Angeles, says reclaimed wood is natural, environmentally responsible, and inherently loaded with history and meaning, making it a great choice for today's homeowners. It is said that it is the best for.

“We love making furniture from reclaimed wood, and the best part is that each piece of furniture is completely unique,” says Ross. “In the right hands, furniture made from live-edge planks accentuates the natural splendor of wood and infuses elegance and simplicity into spaces with a biophilic connection to the outdoors.”

For example, in a plainly decorated space, a wood console featuring a curved, live-edge surface can become the room's most talked-about element, says Ross. It makes a real impact on any interior, he says.

Room & Board, a modern furniture and home furnishings retailer in Minneapolis, began carrying reclaimed wood in 2018. That year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service partnered with the company and social services company Humanium to create a public-private partnership. Emily McGarvey, director of sustainability at Room & Board, says they are focused on using surplus reclaimed wood in new projects.

The wood comes from homes slated for demolition and city trees slated to be cut down. The partnership created jobs, removed waste from the landfill system, and helped Room & Board develop furniture and decorative items using salvaged wood.

Currently, Room & Board uses American urban wood from reclaimed rowhouses in cities such as Detroit, New York, Minneapolis, and Baltimore to create McKean's media series, storage cabinets, console tables, and more.

“As a result of this program, media cabinets, tables and outdoor furniture are now given a second life in reclaimed wood and can be seamlessly incorporated into any décor,” says McGarvey.

Kropovinski says people may be surprised to learn how many shades of reclaimed wood are used in today's design projects. If you want your room to look clean and fresh, we recommend whitewashed pieces. Homeowners may also brighten up the kitchen or family room with a colorful stain to make the wood stand out even more, he says.

Ross says she loves colorful reclaimed custom cabinets. It's not limited to use in kitchens and bathrooms, we also love seeing it placed in hallways, family rooms, and dining spaces.

“Installing built-in cabinetry made from reclaimed or salvaged wood not only highlights the inherent beauty of this natural material, but also draws attention to the uniqueness of your space. Rich color tones Natural wood cabinets, such as those with dramatic wood grain or subtle shades, offer the perfect opportunity to create an eye-catching focal point.”

David Ciccarelli, founder and CEO of Toronto-based online vacation rental platform Lake, says reclaimed wood flooring makes a space feel more personalized to the owner. For example, his family recently purchased a 40-year-old cottage with beautiful herringbone floors, but it was originally stained an unpleasant orange color.

Ciccarelli said he sanded down the floor to save it and discovered it was made of white pine. He says he was thrilled because from his visual perspective, he knew that herringbone would be elegant, timeless, and take his space up a notch.

“The diagonal lines in a herringbone pattern create the illusion of space, making small kitchens appear larger and narrow kitchens seem longer,” says Ciccarelli. “On a practical level, herringbone floors are more than just aesthetically pleasing. Many of the materials suitable for this pattern, such as hardwoods and ceramics, are known for their durability and are ideal for high-traffic environments such as kitchens. Perfect for.”

Interior cladding and siding is another great way to use reclaimed wood, Ross says. He recommends using it on a feature wall, adding it as continuous wainscoting, or completely covering all walls and ceilings in a room.

“You can't underestimate how wood paneling can transform the quality of a room, cloaking a space in an incredibly warm and sound-absorbing material,” says Ross. “This can be expressed in a contemporary, modern way, such as using zigzag panels of native redwood, or in a more traditional way, using raised panels and moldings.”