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Believe it or not, when it comes to creating modern interiors, it doesn’t have to be all about stark minimalism and cold, sleek surfaces. In fact, the type of modern design I tend to be most drawn to is warm and inviting, layered and textural, character-filled and personal. It’s an aesthetic that seamlessly blends the clean lines of modernism with the warmth of organic elements, all while embracing sophisticated elegance.
One of my favorite ways for achieving this look and feel is by bringing reclaimed wood into the design mix.
While it might seem counterintuitive to pair such a raw, rustic element with modern interiors, when balanced with other more refined textures and finishes, it works wonders to ground the space, lending it visual warmth and tons of character.
Style & Sustainability
We’re committed to sustainable design at RHD, which means we’re mindful about where the products we use in our clients’ homes come from, how they are produced, the materials they’re made from, and how it all impacts humanity and the environment. The practice of repurposing previously used lumber into new projects fits in perfectly with this commitment and how we view our responsibility to the environment.
The possibilities for incorporating reclaimed wood into modern interiors are virtually endless. Everything from flooring and cabinetry to fireplace mantles and decorative furnishings and accents are all ideal uses for reclaimed wood.
Where Rustic Meets Refined
When I use reclaimed wood in a client’s space, I'm not aiming for an overall rustic cabin look and feel. My clients are looking for interiors with a certain sophistication and elegance, even when they want a more casual space.
Layering in other textures in addition to the wood and providing a nice mix of refined and rustic textures and finishes makes all the difference in ensuring the spaces we create are polished as opposed to primitive.
This approach yields a quintessential blend of sophistication and inviting comfort that characterizes this iteration of the modern aesthetic.
Balance is Key
As always with good design, using reclaimed wood in modern interiors is about balance. Whether the goal is to make it a key player in the space or just pulling in a piece or two, the idea is to counter and complement its organic look and raw texture with sleek, clean-lined elements to balance it all out.
Even just a single well-chosen piece–whether it's a striking coffee table with a story etched into its surface by time or a salvaged wood beam repurposed into a statement-making mantlepiece–can add just the right touch of organic warmth and timeless ease to a modern style space.
Reclaimed Wood Ceiling Treatments for the Win
For example, we recently worked with clients looking to transform their great room into a space that could function as an expansive dining room. The space has very tall, vaulted ceilings that practically call out for a ceiling treatment, so I came up with two possible options: We could either apply wood cladding to the entire ceiling and top it all with beams or we could keep the ceiling’s sheetrock material and add multiple beams instead. We ultimately decided on the sheetrock with accent beams.
When it came down to choosing the material for the beams we felt something reclaimed would feel more natural to the home’s environment than something new. To offset the light white oak cabinetry, we went with a slightly darker poplar that was salvaged from an old Amish barn that we utilized to create wrapped beams.
Choosing this over a sleek, modern material for the beams helped to add warmth and architectural interest to the space, creating a cozy, retreat-like spot where the homeowners and their guests can linger and unwind over shared meals.
For added cohesion and interest, we also chose reclaimed lumber for the dining room’s new fireplace mantle, as well as floating shelves and a wood detail on the range hood in the kitchen.
By blending modern refinement with nature’s organic textures, we breathe life and soul into the design.
Reclaimed Lumber Sources
Going to a salvage yard and picking out wood for an item in your home is similar to going to a stone yard and picking out a slab in that it lets you be involved in the behind-the-scenes experience. You’ll always have a fun memory associated with that item.
In the hunt for my clients’ dining room beams, I visited several local salvage yards. The people at Heritage Salvage, a three-acre facility in Petaluma, were fantastic and helped me find the exact right pieces for the space.
The Lumber Baron in Richmond and Albany, CA (their two locations are only about ten minutes away from each other) is another great resource. They’re a second generation family-owned and operated lumber yard that stocks both beautiful new and reclaimed douglas fir, cedar, and pine, but they are known for their redwood.
I also visited GreenLynx, a Santa Rosa-based deconstruction and lumber yard. They’re wonderful at salvaging and selling a variety of building and architectural materials, and even some furnishings and décor. Their Instagram is super fun, too!
The people at all of these places are so helpful and so lovely–I just had to give them a shout out! While I didn’t visit them in person, Vintage Timberworks in Temecula, CA is fabulous for their beams.
Current Trends in Reclaimed Wood
As with all other aspects of design, I’m less concerned with what’s currently on-trend when it comes to reclaimed woods than I am with finding what’s right for that particular home, client, and space.
However, I can’t help but be aware that although the live edge look has been super strong for the past 15 years or so, we’ve been leaning away from it of late. I’m definitely not looking for those pieces now the way I once was and my clients aren’t asking for them. That said, live edge remains such a beautiful, compelling look, so the spaces they were used in while it was so popular still look amazing and timeless.
I won't be at all surprised if we see the live edge look come back full force at some point in the future. It’s just too beautiful not to make a return!
In the meantime, warm-toned beams, cladding, and flooring hold the spotlight at the moment for reclaimed wood trends.
There's so much opportunity in modern interiors for incorporating beautiful reclaimed wood. Not only does this add a layer of organic warmth and texture to these spaces, but it also repurposes a resource that needn’t go to waste. It’s a wonderful way to support the environment while beautifying our homes!
Do you have a renovation or new construction project coming up and you’re in love with the warm yet sophisticated modern look we create here at RHD? Tell us about it!
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