There are two types of people that have polar opposite reactions when faced with words like "salvaged", "re-purposed", "recycled" or "scrap" - words that seem harmless, but when you're talking about a product to buy, half of the people run away screaming, and the other half are more intrigued than before. I'm in the latter group, as not only do I think the product is super-green, but it also feels as though it's been reincarnated and given another life as a different object. For some reason, it feels as though we were destined for each other.
You can imagine my excitement then when I discovered Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek's entire collection made from sloophout, or scrapwood. I think a better term to use in English would be salvaged wood, or re-purposed - since the wood was discarded by other companies who had no use for it, but Eek lovingly gave new life to this wood in the form of furniture that has serious drool-appeal. Eek's designs are far from the mundane, boring look that might be associated with recycled furniture - instead he uses great classic designs (like benches and stools) and mixed the different colored woods so that it looks almost like a patchwork or quilt-like effect. By far my favorites have to be this long and lovely cabinet, and for my daughter's room, an amazing and clearly one-of-a-kind rocking chair. Although a bit high on the price range scale, it's important to know you're getting a unique piece that will last a lifetime and can be passed down through the generations. If that's not the essence of green living, I don't know what is!
Love the chairs. What great pieces!
Posted by: Furniture Quest | July 05, 2010 at 11:07 AM