Reclaimed Lumber Table

This table was made out of reclaimed lumber. The gray lumber is from a pergola that was in the elements for about four years. The lumber for the legs was purchased at the Rebuilding Center. The texture and color were very appealing and seemed perfect for turning into an indoor table to support plants under a window sill. I did very little sanding in order to preserve the color. I was really surprised at how quickly this table came together (one day). This was largely due to the rustic nature of the table design. I decided that I would not sand, stain or finish the wood. No glue was used in the construction so that the materials can once again be re-used in the future. The screws are exposed in order to further the effect of the rustic feeling. The barn has been brought inside.

Pallet Table

This table is constructed from reclaimed lumber. The top of the table once had the life of a pallet and was most likely destined for a landfill. The base is constructed of old shelving material.

I have been getting a guilty conscious lately from purchasing wood at lumber superstores such as Lowes and Home Depot. I know that most if not all of the wood that they sell is not from sustainable forests. There are some projects that require new wood to be purchased and I understand this need but there are also many projects in which reclaimed lumber is a great, and in some cases a more expensive, alternative. Reclaimed lumber can come in many shapes and forms. Some of it is sold with zero or two sides planed. If you have access to a table saw you can take the planing into your own hands and reveal some amazing wood that has been hiding behind 100 years worth of weather and grime. The beauty of it is that you can find really gorgeous woods that may no longer be available due to logging restrictions or lack of the tree resource due to unsustainable practices. The Rebuilding Center in Portland, Oregon, caters to this reclaiming need. They accept donations but will also dismantle houses from the basement to the roof and then offer the lumber to the public for sale. This is a wonderful opportunity for people to think creatively about reclaimed lumber uses.