A cabin or just cordwood?

Interesting take on concealment? I doubt this Piet Hein Eek designed log cabin was built for that purpose! Designed for his musician friend Hans Liberg, this construction looks similar to the old mortar stye cordwood construction with a twist although, this looks more like a challenge to build!

Below are some works by Piet Hein Eek built with reclaimed timbers. To view more of his assignments or works click here Piet Hien Eek

Reclaimed timber bench

Reclaimed timber chair

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

A Contemporary Cabin in the Woods.

I came across Canadian photographer Alex Jowett who snapped this beautiful wood clad cabin with contemporary styling. There was no info tagged to the images so just scroll down and enjoy!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse.  - Ray

D.Y.I. = DELIGHT

Just a few pics one our happy customers sent in. They ordered 2 1/4" Reclaimed Unfinished Elm flooring along with a couple of cans of OSMO, took the leap of faith, installed and finished their flooring all on their own!

Job well done guys! Proof that you don't have to be a wood worker to install flooring.

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

New York anyone?

What's not to love about New York? I've been to Manhattan twice and Brooklyn once...briefly and fell in love with it. The style there is outstanding on all fronts. And it all comes down to its amazing culture!

Cyclone Chaise - Looks like one of those old gnarly wooden roller coasters!

I came across this Brooklyn based design + furniture company. What I love is that their mindset is based on environmental sustainability within their culture. And their design team is made up of, well...designers. You definitely know their work is legit!

3 x 3 Base

Their works consist of a variety of tables for all uses, bed frames, and array of seating and accessories. And all of their products are built from "materials that have been reclaimed, recycled, repurposed, reused or otherwise rejected from their original function.".

Slab Bench

For more info visit their website at uhuru or make a pit stop in Brooklyn!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Tough as Oak!

This timber table we're building is gonna be tough! Made from locally selected Bur Oak, this classic look that is more resistant to surface marks such as dings and scuffs.  Dims are 8'l x 36'w  x 29.5h.

The client chose Minwax's 230 Early American Stain for color. The sample we made looks sweet! Much warmer and livelier than other stains I've seen on Oak.

The guys in the shop are scheduled to finish the table by Tuesday.
Stay tuned for pictures of the finished table!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Sweet Sweet Ash!

Here is a quick glance at a project we just finished up. What we have here is a a beautiful Ash staircase with Ash hand rail. All Ash was locally selected and finished with OSMO Polyx Oil. 1/2" tempered glass is fastened to the Ash staircase with stainless steel standoffs. Finished pictures to follow!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Definitive style in Reclaimed Wood Iconic Panels!

This collection from B&N Industries Inc.s' displays panels of three species: Western Redwood (revitalized from olive barrels, Douglas Fir (revitalized from old gym bleachers), and Asian Teak (procured from beautiful structures throughout Asia).

B&N use FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified timber veneer and panel substrates with the panels shipped as unfinished . This will help the designer/architect earn LEED (Leadership In Energy & Environmental Design) points.

Although B&N provides innovative and stylish systems for retail,i think these panels would be great in anyone’s spacious dwelling! For more info on B&N visit B&N Industries, Inc.

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Global Wind Group and Zu's Power Challenge

Global Wind Groups Eco Cabin

Today is the launch of Global Wind Groups ZuS Power Challenge. Vince Ceccarelli of Global Wind Group will be spending the week in GWG's Eco Cabin displayed at Red River Exhibition grounds living inside a 8′ x 16′ cabin fully powered by their1kw ZüS Modular Power System!

An enthusiastic Vince Ceccarelli on his 1 week eco vacay.

Ceccarelli’s living area will include all the modern conveniences any man would need complete with a  computer with Internet access, a television, fridge and microwave. You can follow him live via internet feed at http://zuspowerchallenge.com/ and say hello or just check in to see how he's doing.

Who is Global Wind Group?

Global Wind Group Inc. (GWG) is a Winnipeg, Manitoba based Clean Technology Company. GWG designs, and sells vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) technology. Global Wind Group’s value proposition is to bring the customer dependable, clean wind energy at the best possible price.

GWG Eco Cabin

GWG has designed a new and innovative wind energy product under the brand name “ZüS™ Modular Power System”, patents pending. The ZüS™ Modular Power System is a stand-alone source of energy for use where grid-tied energy is either unavailable or costly.

A solution to the customers energy needs, the ZüS™ has been designed to function as an energy platform to which a variety of accessories are mounted, including street lamps, wireless cameras, and telecommunications hardware.

Is sandblasting another sustainable solution for making old wood reusable?

Judging by their video, Allweld Mobile Sanding definitely has another option for making your wood new again!

As stated from their website, common sandblasting wood practices include: refurbishing wood refurbishing wood, removing existing paint, reclaiming wood after fires, exposing grain to improve aesthetics.

Old warehouses with wood post and beam construction look staggering once sandblasted for redevelopment to office or residential space.

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

What would you do if you had to remove your beloved tree?

Canopy of Manitoba Elms

If you had a tree in your back yard, a great big old tree that was steeped in childhood memories, like the one you used to climb to the top acting like a monkey, or maybe swinging back and forth endlessly on a swing your dad made you, how would you feel if you were forced to take it down?  Would it have gotten so big that you just wanted it out of your yard? Would you be sad? Wouldn’t you be depressed because all of your special memories were about to be dumped into the city landfill?

Manitoba Oak reclaimed to make steppers at the new Assiniboine Park Children's Playground

I remember as a kid, there were two great big old trees behind my parent’s restaurant in the back parking lot. My brothers and I would climb them like monkeys when we were younger. My parents actually condoned this for whatever reason. I think that as long as they could watch us through the window it was alright. Getting back to those trees, I remember them being hacked down because my dad felt he wanted more light in the back lot.

Reclaimed Elm Elata Coffee Table

I do recall that it “sucked” that he was doing that because those were the trees that my brothers and I climbed as kids. Back in the day it wasn't mainstream to recycle wood and build something out of it. It would have been nice to know that it could have been made into something cool like a skateboard ramp or a timber table...something! Well now I know better.

Public art snake we built of reclaimed MB Oak for the Assiniboine Park Children's Playground

Anyone can call an arborist and have their great big old tree turned into something beautiful if need be (within reason of course). The most popular uses for recycled trees are timber tables, wood flooring, and art pieces. There is no limit to what you could build other than your imagination!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Reclaimed Elm Veneer Panels

Elm veneers glued and waiting to dry.

There have been a of projects on the go for us this year and it is at times difficult to divulge any on going information about them. I can tell you the the use of reclaimed wood is abundant in many new projects as designers & builders strive for more sustainable solutions!

Reclaimed Elm Veneers ready to be glued.

The pictures you can see are some reclaimed elm veneered panels that will be used as a design element in the new construction of the Stonewall Heritage Arts Centre. There will be roughly 30 panels ranging in size.

Elm clamped down!

Destroyed by a fire in 2007, the rebuilding of the new HAC tops out at $7 million will display some of our reclaimed engineered Elm flooring which we're extremely excited about!

Elm panels looking great so far!

 I hope to make a trip out there to take photos prior to or on the day of the grand opening. The anticipated completion date is March 31st. I'll keep you all posted!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse - Ray