Design Elements: Beautiful Reclaimed Wood

Architect Robert Hawkins used reclaimed hardwood for this vertical interior paneling. As for its former life, he says, "I believe it was on an old barn structure in the Midwest originally. It has been milled with a shiplap profile.

"We love the warm character and feel the material exudes into the space; knowing that the material is getting a second life is a good feeling. Because the surface of the wood has a natural aged patina, no stain is necessary or desired, thereby avoiding the potential intrusion of VOCs into the interior environment," he says.

This beautiful fireplace wall stands up to the scale of the soaring ceiling, making it possible to use a small fireplace. The wood was originally in a barn in Texas. "The house was designed to be a part of the landscape. This was accomplished by how the house sits in the site, the placement of windows and the position of walls for views," says Pam Lamaster-Millet, the project's architect. "We felt the reclaimed wood was appropriate for the main focal point of the living space, as an extension of the wooded site into the house, and a nod to the agricultural area of Algoma."

Here's a peek at that kitchen cabinet wood mentioned previously, which has been whitewashed.

If you're good with tools, you may want to take on a reclaimed table as a do-it-yourself project. A happy accident enhanced the look of this dining table, which is made from repurposed wood planks. The look was inspired by some spilled paint.

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Of course, I can't talk about reclaimed wood without featuring Tricia Rose's one-of-a-kind driftwood headboard.

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Pairing reclaimed wood with other reclaimed objects is a winning combination. This sink, salvaged from an old industrial building, sits atop cabinets fashioned from reclaimed wood.

Learn more by reading about 'Salvage Secrets'