Born again

An old cable spool gets a second life as a cool side/coffee table with lots of character.

Image from blog.DesignSquish.com

Flexible & eclectic -and I don't mean your aunt!

A casual and comfortable living room. The barn light above, that Adirondack style chair indoors, that red stool used as a side table, and that big pillow that can be used as a foot-rest are nice and comfortable touches. It's nice that you can move most of those things around as you see fit.

Image from HouseBeautiful.com

Mediterranean wabisabi!

Ah, the Mediterranean art of living... Easy-going, natural, resourceful, in-peace with the passage of time and it's effects, humble and imperfect but still luxurious and beautiful.




All images from the La Petite Bastide website but I found out about it on DesireToInspire first.

Reclaimed character!

Two casual pieces made of reclaimed wood; one is the Cant End Table from Uhuru made from the end caps of bourbon barrels, and the other is the Boardwalk Bench from Wuttke Werks, made of reclaimed wood from an old boardwalk. With the pattern left by removed nail heads on one, and the color and smell of bourbon left on the other, both pieces have lots of character!

Above - image from UhuruDesign.com

Above - image from WuttkeWerks.blogspot.com

Atelier AM

I first found out about the work of Atelier AM through a DesireToInspire.net post and knew right away that their use of neutral, natural colors, rough textures, aged wood, and natural elements was a perfect match for Unpolished Life. When you combine such elements you get spaces that have soul!






All images from AtelierAM.com

Authenticity & beauty

When wood is used in a way that honors its nature, when unique markings on it are not removed as flaws but accepted and even highlighted, the end result is usually more aesthetically pleasing... as demonstrated by the great designs here from André Joyau.




All images from AndreJoyau.com

Scorched Wood

I usually prefer the natural color of wood, but if you're interested in something darker or more dramatic scorching also preserves and highlights the grain quite well.

Above - Scorched oak stool from SamChinnery.co.uk

Above - Bench made out of old teak railroad by Chista.net

Warm wood and durable steel

Hardware Interiors from Toronto sells great furniture, some new, some salvaged, which showcase the beauty of wood and steel very well. With minimally finished surfaces and solid structures these pieces seem like they would last a long time and look better with age.

Images from HardwareInteriors.com

Nesting Side Tables

Here's another entry from the UK... These solid pine nesting tables are by NestsAndCubes.co.uk. The finish is really nice, smooth but not shiny. It's a beautiful set with a simple and functional design showing off its dovetail joints.
Image from NestsAndCubes.co.uk

Vintage industrial pieces from Cleveland Art

Cleveland Art re-purposes/recycles salvaged industrial surplus as functional furniture/art/lighting. I like renewing/reusing furniture instead of dumping them, I like the functional and no-nonsense aesthetic of industrial objects, I like things that last, and I like things with age and character, so there is quite a bit for me to enjoy at Cleveland Art's inventory.





All images from ClevelandArt.com

Pacha Design in UK

Pacha Design, based in UK, create some great looking furniture and accessories using reclaimed and new materials, mostly steel, slate, and oak. Their creations are at once rustic and modern, with solid structures and no-nonsense designs; just the way we like things.



All images from PachaDesign.co.uk

Wuttke Werks for great works!

Thorben Wuttke of Wuttke Werks in Honolulu create some great looking furniture using reclaimed wood. His pieces are functional in a simple and relaxed style.

Above - Nesting side tables made of steel rebar and reclaimed wood. I would have liked thinner rebar, for weight and looks, and just oiled the rebar instead of painting to show off its authentic color, but paint is also great, makes them a little more friendly and cheerful.


Above two images - great looking coffee tables, showing off the beautiful grain of the wood.
All images from wuttkewerks.blogspot.com

Great chair/great lifestyle

I love this chair. It's like a director's chair but seems to offer a lot more comfort. Simple construction, fold-it-up-and-take-it-anywhere mobility, wood, and leather... all add up to a great lounge chair. I also love that portable side table, the gas lamps, the tent itself, even the stakes holding up the tent! There's nothing I don't like about this image. Ah, to enjoy some scotch on the rocks on that chair as the sun goes down... now, that would be great!

Image from AwesomeSpaces.tumblr.com

Axel Vervoordt side table

I prefer furniture with sturdy, straight-forward, no-frills designs, and this side table from Axel Vervoordt definitely qualifies.
Image from AxelVervoordt.com

Green Wood Works

Mark Winner over at Green Wood Works creates some great pieces of furniture using mostly reclaimed wood. I love his work. His creations are practical with solid structures and simple designs. Go Mark!
Below - Mark Winner also tried his hand at designing landscapes and outdoor areas with great success at his Sierra View Retreat.
All images from greenwoodworks.org.

Natural Choices for Side Tables

These side tables are simultaneously modern and rustic. It is relaxing in itself to have natural forms around but these tables are also easy-going because they would age well and look better with use - meaning you could enjoy them instead of worrying about scratching them.
Above - Fir Root side table/stool from Pendleton.
Above - Branch side table from West Elm.

Stool Samples

I love industrial stools at home. They last forever, age really well, have a lot of character, and are usually inexpensive. You can place one by a chair to set a drink/plate on, they're light and small enough so you can move them wherever you need them or put them away if you don't... and people can actually sit on them if need be.
Above - the CB2 alchemy stool found on Apartment Therapy.

I prefer the ones with wooden seats/tops since they have some warmth along with an everlasting metal structure.
Above - Vintage painter's stool from Modern50.

Tom Scheerer

Interior designer and architect Tom Scheerer has a knack for creating some casual and relaxed environments.
Below - The simple shutters, the aged paint job, and the ground-cover are great. I am not sure what the name of that ground-cover plant is, but it sure creates a more relaxed yard than a manicured lawn.
Below - I am not too wild about those candle holders or the symmetrical mirror set up, but the dining chairs, the table, the exposed roof structure, the no-frills fan, and the French doors and the walls with their lived-in paint job make up for those.
Below - It must be tempting to put a fresh coat of paint on that wall on the right, but kudos to Tom for resisting that urge. Whatever is going on on that wall adds a lot of character to this patio.
Images from interior designer/architect Tom Scheerer's portfolio.

Mismatched Silverware

This is quite a table; sturdy, practical, rustic, and great looking. I love tables like this one. Take a closer look at the setting and you'll see something else I can't get enough of......The table's set using mismatched silverware! Adds a lot of character and joy to the meal. And how easy going it is... Just get any silverware you like, unique ones, modern ones, traditional ones... from garage sales, big box stores, thrift stores, where ever you find them... and don't worry about having a matching set of 10 or 12 or whatever... Perfect! The underlying principle is: Enjoy life, don't make it harder! From ThePioneerWoman.com.

Leather, Steel, and Wood

Instead of sanding them down and covering them up with a coat of paint, appreciate the unique characteristics of things.
Tugboat side table (above) and Spencer armchair & ottoman from Sundance Catalog Co.
Distressed leather and concrete floors - so easy to live with!