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Guest Picks: Petrified Wood
Fossilized wood is a trendy material choice that's been a few million years in the making
Petrified wood is my latest decorating accent of choice and full-on obsession! The polished earth tones add a rustic yet chic look to any room, and they can work for you whether your taste leans toward the modern, the traditional or somewhere in between.
"Petrified" comes from the Greek word for rock or stone, so petrified wood literally means "wood turned to stone." It is the fossilized remains of ancient vegetation that has gone through "permineralization," a fancy term for all the organic materials being replaced with minerals such as quartz or silica. But I'll skip the rest of the biology lesson.
What you really need to know is that this rarified wood is gorgeous when honed to a subtle sheen, mingling the warmth of wood with the depth and marbling of stone. The heavy material is the ultimate souvenir of prehistoric times, and who doesn't want that in their home? Talk about a conversation piece.
Check out these petrified objects, from budget friendly to uberluxe, and see how they have been artfully used everywhere from living rooms to kitchens. — Lani from Mon Petit Chou Chou
"Petrified" comes from the Greek word for rock or stone, so petrified wood literally means "wood turned to stone." It is the fossilized remains of ancient vegetation that has gone through "permineralization," a fancy term for all the organic materials being replaced with minerals such as quartz or silica. But I'll skip the rest of the biology lesson.
What you really need to know is that this rarified wood is gorgeous when honed to a subtle sheen, mingling the warmth of wood with the depth and marbling of stone. The heavy material is the ultimate souvenir of prehistoric times, and who doesn't want that in their home? Talk about a conversation piece.
Check out these petrified objects, from budget friendly to uberluxe, and see how they have been artfully used everywhere from living rooms to kitchens. — Lani from Mon Petit Chou Chou
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| A petrified fireplace? Be still my heart! I just used stone around my hearth (I opted for green soapstone), but wish I had known this was an option. Wowsa! I can't even handle the driftwood mantel. |
by Agate Designs
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This petrified wood table is the perfect accent in any room. I use tree trunk end tables as plant stands to display vases or pottery. My favorite one sits between two club chairs in my living room and holds a bronze ceramic owl.
by Agate Designs
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Petrified wood book ends add a splash of erudite color to any bookshelf and immediately make the books they sandwich look oh-so proper.
by One Kings Lane
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Contemporary metal legs for an ancient topper — what a juxtaposition!
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Add instant pizzazz to your cocktail hour with this cheese platter. You'll certainly keep people guessing just what your serveware is made of.
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| I am swooning over this room. I have a Tudor and hunger for modern renovations, so I am constantly looking for inspired ideas to borrow for my own space. The cherry on top of this gorgeous room is the petrified wood at the center of the console table, mais oui! |
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Here is a closer look at this gorgeous room and its petrified centerpiece.
by Anthropologie
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I already own this and love it. It can be used as a trivet, cheese tray, plant stand, vase stand — anything you can dream up. I keep finding so many uses for it. I will surely be in Anthropologie soon to pick up a few more.
by Anthropologie
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This more neutral pair of petrified wood bookends would work perfectly to dress up a desktop or cubicle.
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I would love to use these stools around a formal dining table, but they would be equally divine in a rustic breakfast nook. While off duty from the dining table, use one around the house as a step stool or accent piece.
by Matthew Studios
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The gorgeous Galvin side table oozes refined glamour.
Don't you want to wake up to this every morning? In a pair, they would make the perfect nightstands and royal perches for alarm clocks.
Don't you want to wake up to this every morning? In a pair, they would make the perfect nightstands and royal perches for alarm clocks.
by WeGotLites
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Make a row of these on a windowsill, above a headboard or as a backdrop for some framed photos. There are infinite possibilities for wood as art.
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This lamp would be at home in any room of my — er, your house.
It is a totally new spin on neutral and an excellent update for the everyday, plain, white light fixture.
It is a totally new spin on neutral and an excellent update for the everyday, plain, white light fixture.
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| This petrified wood lamp base is unique, maintaining the natural finish rather than being honed. Soft tones and a rough finish work together beautifully here. |
| I often struggle with making industrial spaces look warm. This kitchen achieves this balance perfectly, using assorted wood stools, branches and a stunning petrified bench to add texture and color. |
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| Hudson Furniture is the purveyor of petrified wood in New York City. No one does it better than them, and you can rest assured that the wood purchased from them was sustainably sourced. |
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This is an impossibly cool coffee table from Hudson. It's totally carbon-dated chic!
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by A-Interiors LLC
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| Petrified wood takes the tree trunk end table trend and ratchets it up a notch in this classic living room. I have tree trunk tables throughout my house but constantly worry about drink rings and stains — but they would not a factor if they were petrified! It may be time for me to consult my husband about some upgrades. |
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This is the classic petrified accent table or stool from Hudson Furniture. I love the skunk streak in this one. The beauty of these natural creations is that no two are alike.
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Petrified tile gives you the warm feeling of wood with none of the maintenance. I see this working in rustic cabins, urban penthouses and everything in between.
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This multicolored, multitextured petrified tile would make for a stunning backsplash.
The neutral spectrum is covered here, making coordination between cabinets, countertops and fixtures a snap.
The neutral spectrum is covered here, making coordination between cabinets, countertops and fixtures a snap.
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| Isn't this just the ultimate? It is the most decadent bathroom sink I have ever seen and by far the most creative use of petrified wood I have come across. |
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| These sinks really just go to show that you can use petrified wood artfully and tastefully in any room of your house. |
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And last but not least, here is my own petrified trivet (purchased from Anthropologie) employed as plant stand atop my dining room table. This is the purchase that started it all.
Next: On Trend: Wood Tiles
Next: On Trend: Wood Tiles
Comments
Susan Mills Design It is very important to make sure you purchase from legally harvested sources. Laws protect many areas but much illegally sourced petrified wood is used to make such items.
10 months ago · Like
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Ideabook published on July 24, 2012.
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