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Don't get me wrong... I love the look of furniture made from old wood that's been re-purposed and hand-finished to a smooth, gorgeous patina complete with character markings.

I'm just not at all liking this stuff out on the market now that is made of gray, rough planks that appear as though they've been left outside in the rain. First of all, it seems that the potential for splinters is huge. Secondly, I have a hard time spending money on furniture that, due to appearance or construction issues, isn't "heritage" quality (worthy enough to be passed down someday).

Can someone please explain why I should look at this stuff as anything other than junk?

Like anything else, there is good stuff and bad stuff. There are lots of knock-offs out there. Some reclaimed wood furniture I've seen is drop dead gorgeous and beautifully crafted. Others, not so.

I hear you! The pallet wood stuff makes me cringe! That wood can have termites, boring beetles, and or mold in it and the worst wood no woodworker would ever want, the lowest grade is used for pallets!

To each his own as to what people want or spend their money on, I would never judge that.

But I get your frustration at looking at all that junk wood being used for furniture that makes splinters! Real crafters would use the appropriate woods and quality and integrity to make furniture. But some of the DIY'ers who do not know what they are doing could get fooled into thinking it is cheap and easy to get something free and use it.

I think the different wood types for drawer fronts is a nice artistic expression for those who love wood and its grain. Natural settings just look so warm and cozy.

To understand this look do a little google research on Axel Vervoordt who is the originator of it. Mr Vervoordt is an antiques/ art/archeological elements dealer and interior designer who lives in Belgium. His look is about respecting and finding beauty in the old. And by old, he means really old. Like hundreds and hundreds of European years old. As in costing an astounding amount of money old. (very worthy of passing down to your kids)

Of course the look is copied cheaply all over the place now. It is true that it is probably a good idea to not drop any big funds on current copied versions of the look. Still, the original ideas are fascinating, and Mr. Vervoordt is well respected for his vision and thinking.

Here is Mr Vervoordt himself with some of his work. It is anyone's guess how old that chest under the window is. Most likely 2 or 3 hundred years old or more. It will be in the original condition. The statue in the photo won't be a copy. Maybe 3,000 years old, but I'm not sure. Maybe older. Anyway, he works with things that are beyond what normal people can obtain.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cocok,

Jewel, you shouldn't look at it any differently than you do. Just be careful what you say and how loud you say it, next time you run into some discontinued furniture from Restoration Hardware at Home Goods. There could be someone who has spent months looking for that Luggage Trolley cocktail table or that driftwood mirror,in the next aisle over, whose insecurities would be pushed over the edge by your appraisal. To each his own, as they say.

quote:

Originally posted by cocok:
To understand this look do a little google research on Axel Vervoordt who is the originator of it. Mr Vervoordt is an antiques/ art/archeological elements dealer and interior designer who lives in Belgium. His look is about respecting and finding beauty in the old. And by old, he means really old. Like hundreds and hundreds of European years old. As in costing an astounding amount of money old. (very worthy of passing down to your kids)

Of course the look is copied cheaply all over the place now. It is true that it is probably a good idea to not drop any big funds on current copied versions of the look. Still, the original ideas are fascinating, and Mr. Vervoordt is well respected for his vision and thinking.

Here is Mr Vervoordt himself with some of his work. It is anyone's guess how old that chest under the window is. Most likely 2 or 3 hundred years old or more. It will be in the original condition. The statue in the photo won't be a copy. Maybe 3,000 years old, but I'm not sure. Maybe older. Anyway, he works with things that are beyond what normal people can obtain.

What cocok said. Axel Vervoordt is a remarkable influence on design, and has been for many years. When RH came out with this look two years ago, I posted here about the obvious homage to AV. I happen to love the look, but not the cheesy knock-offs.

Here's a look at AV's home in Venice, FWIW: http://www.architecturaldigest...eshow_092008#slide=8

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aychihuahua,

I remember the first time I saw the pallet furniture, I was kind of appalled, but that's what the kid in college wanted for her first apartment. At least it was inexpensive, unlike the RH furniture. We bought three tables 13 years ago. The kids sanded it and gave it all a dark stain about six years ago and are still using it. They love it because they don't care if someone sets a wet glass on it or the dogs climb on it. Their approach with regard to their home decor is somewhat different than mine, as you might guess.

I don't like all my wood pieces to be sun-bleached. BUT the link to Axel Vervoordt's home is incredible!

I saw a brick-maker's table in one of his rooms! (on MMF's thread I posted a very cheap imitation of that style table I found and am applying a driftwood or sun-bleached finish to it)

One of my prime considerations when choosing furniture is comfort and slivers don't add to that! I also like my furniture to look and be clean, and rough finishes are not easy to insure cleanliness. Ditto the extremely weathered shabby peeling paint furniture. I always want to scrub that stuff with good ol' fashioned lye soap! Or bleach and detergent. Another thing I'd never have in my house is furniture upholstered in rough burlap - who wants to sit on that uncomfortable stuff?

I do have a few barn board mirror and picture frames which I like for their texture and rusticity.

Many years ago on the TV show 'This Old House' they had a furniture maker who used pallet wood. He milled and sanded it and produced some really nice pieces. He said some pallets were made from good and interesting wood species. I don't know, the pallets we've used are mostly pine I think. DH and I made and sold some birdhouses from pallet wood years ago. It was a good way to repurpose scrap wood.

I believe the Restoration Hardware Belgian/rustic style furniture is made in China and don't think the quality is worth the price. That's just what I've read on home decor forums and my take on it from seeing it in their store.

Another case of "to each their own" - good thing we don't all like the same things or it would be a pretty boring world!

I like in, but maybe only a piece here or there. But I love rustic furniture so I dont mind that old weathered look.

quote:

Originally posted by cocok: It is anyone's guess how old that chest under the window is. Most likely 2 or 3 hundred years old or more. It will be in the original condition.

Such a beautiful chest.

I thought when I first saw the trolley coffee table in a decor mag "how clever" but then when you find them at cheap stores . . . that look is on it's way out! When the masses can and do buy them, something else will take it's place!

I don't care for that look -- I do like casual and I do like a "country" look versus a more elegant interior -- one where fit can be put up on furniture and people feel comfortable in my home. But everything covered in white slipcovers (which may be washable but who wants to spend their time washing slipcovers) and some rustic antique pieces is NOT for me! But others like it and taste is your own personal preference. I can admire the style -- it's just that I couldn't live with it. As others, perhaps could not live with my style!

Martha

I love primitive and country styles but I can't get into the rough type furniture. I do have a very old table on my front porch that my dh's grandfather made and dh's parents used once upon a time in their own house and I do absolutely love it because of its history. It is made of old rough boards and has chippy paint but that thing is solid and heavvyyyy. My sil says she remembers washing a lot of dishes on that old table. They lived in an old log house with no electricity. It is still there and dh and his sis now own it. Maybe someday we can restore the old cabin.

When I saw this cover of a Shades of Light catalog I got last year, all I could think of was "OUCH"!

I agree with Jewels, Ugh!

There is a fine line between repurposed and splintery, dusty, dirty furniture that looks like it belongs in an old house with ghosts.

I grew up with home made furniture in a home made house with rough cut 4x12 beams in the ceiling and de-barked pine trees in the corners. There was a 'barked' tree in the center of the house that appeared to hold up the roof that had 2x12 rough cut boards across the beams. My dad used the blued wood from the throw away pile of tongue & groove pine for the interior walls, he used to work at a wood products lumber mill. And mom & dad went into the forest to pick out the trees used for the corners of the house. Sometimes pine beetles would crawl out of the trees and fly around the house.

By 'rough cut' i mean 3" splinters and i was stuck more than a few times. We lived in the home made house in the country while everyone else i went to school with lived in neighborhoods with grassy lawns, play grounds nearby and neighbors. Our furniture was made with 2x4 pine boards and purchased leatherette foam pads. You know the kind that is in vogue at Ikea or other modern design stores. cold, not cozy and inviting. We had a homemade counter height table before they were popular, too.

I realize since a professional designer designed the furniture then the style must be considered very nice, but it certainly is not my taste. Especially the potential for splinters and dust filled crevices. Maybe people think it's pretty to look at but not always practical to live with.

that's why i hate rustic so much, and the unstained grey they use depresses me. oh well, it's just my experience.


added... On the other hand, in retrospect, it is cool to think that I grew up with modern parents in an 8 sided house. Our house had a 360 view of the mountains with an upper deck around most of it. it was an open concept with living room kitchen/dining on the upper floor with master room and our bedrooms were downstairs and there was not a square room in the house.
Our fireplace was a tall circulr gas fire pit with a narrow table around it for holding drinks and small plates.
.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: wendek,

quote:

Originally posted by zone9alady:
When I saw this cover of a Shades of Light catalog I got last year, all I could think of was "OUCH"!

Me too, say good bye to your fine threaded pillow cases that snag and rip on the lovely splintered head board. Try not to think of the little splinter bits of wood that will find their way into your bedding. nice.

Yeah definitely It is accurate that it is apparently a acceptable abstraction to not bead any big funds on accepted affected versions of the look. Still, the aboriginal account are fascinating,

Sorry for my posts, Jewel, it seems i killed your thread.
i can delete them if they offend anyone, i have a way of killing threads around here.

quote:

Originally posted by wendek:
On the other hand, in retrospect, it is cool to think that I grew up with modern parents in an 8 sided house. Our house had a 360 view of the mountains with an upper deck around most of it. it was an open concept with living room kitchen/dining on the upper floor with master room and our bedrooms were downstairs and there was not a square room in the house.
Our fireplace was a tall circulr gas fire pit with a narrow table around it for holding drinks and small plates.

I agree, this is the best way to look at your early experiences. IMO it's often more valuable to have had unique, even difficult, experiences which help us think differently. That's a valuable assent in life.

quote:

Originally posted by wendek:
Sorry for my posts, Jewel, it seems i killed your thread.
i can delete them if they offend anyone, i have a way of killing threads around here.

You likely have not killed many threads. I've sometimes thought the same but sometimes threads have just run their course and if we post late we're the last poster. Someone has to be!

quote:

Originally posted by joyluck:

quote:

Originally posted by wendek:
Sorry for my posts, Jewel, it seems i killed your thread.
i can delete them if they offend anyone, i have a way of killing threads around here.

You likely have not killed many threads. I've sometimes thought the same but sometimes threads have just run their course and if we post late we're the last poster. Someone has to be!

thanks for the encouragement

DD tells me that they are having installed, a mantel for their cabin fireplace that is made of barnwood. It is 5' long by about 6" thick and 14" deep. Must be laminated the way a butcher block would be.