Recently in the design world, I have noticed one trend that just keeps gaining popularity. Rather than using freshly cut wood, many manufacturers now build furnishings using reclaimed wood. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this practice also plays a role in preserving the environment. It was once hard to find those items made of reclaimed wood, but they are getting easier to find.
When old buildings are beyond repair, materials can be salvaged and used for other purposes rather than going into a landfill. Artisan furniture-makers build tables from the wood beams of abandoned Southern textile mills, while others make reclaimed wood products using materials salvaged from old buildings in Detroit. Manufacturers are using reclaimed wood to make beds, end tables, console tables, dining tables, and anything else creative they can make. Some companies supply hardwood flooring made from reclaimed wood.
