Natural Elements: Driftwood

I love bringing nature indoors. My favorite accessories are typically natural objects and driftwood is right at the top.

(image above from House Beautiful.) It's so sculptural and its dull gray finish is coveted by many... Furniture manufacturers work so hard to get the perfect dull-gray/ limewash finish of driftwood on their pieces today. It's not an easy finish to replicate because it comes from exposure to years & years of water & sun & often salt. Today I wanted to share with you a few resources & inspiration pics for driftwood furnishings & accessories. Check out http://www.nautilusdesign.co.uk/index.html for some beautiful & unique driftwood pieces like this mirror below and sculptures, lamps, etc. The creator of Nautilus, David Holmes, writes, "From an early age I have been fascinated with driftwood, combing the beaches of Pembrokeshire and Cornwall in my holidays.This interest has never wavered, I still collect driftwood; I love the fact that each piece has it's own inherent texture, shape and colour. The unique quality of each piece of wood inspires my handmade designs."

I love this piece of driftwood he has just casually leaning in a corner. There are so many beautfiul images on the Nautilus website so check it out if you have a minute.



The items below are by another artist, Carl Woodland Jr., also known as "Sonny" who learned the art from his father while growing up in the Florida Keys as a boy. He now continues the business with his wife and daughter. Their website is http://www.alldriftwoodfurniture.com/ and the prices are REALLY reasonable. I WANT this sunburst mirror: (how gorgeous?!!)


LOVE this too:They come in all shapes & sizes & they even do custom:


Their tables are so beautiful & they do dining tables, consoles, coffee tables, end tables, you name it. Just cannot get over this dining room table:


They also do lamps in all shapes & sizes & the prices even compare with mass-produced pieces.



Here is Pottery Barn's driftwood lamp (below) for $299 and while I think it's gorgeous, I'd rather have one handmade by an artist who makes his living doing it. (above)




Cote de Texas recently posted this photo below on her beloved linen post. I am gagga for this entire room. Notice the driftwood/ limewash finish on the coffee table. And I can't even handle that lamp.


My dad is a bass fisherman in Illinois (it's his lakehouse we're going to in a week!!) and has lots of fish mounted on driftwood. He always found his own driftwood from the lakes and some of them are HUGE!!! To be honest, I like the driftwood better than the fish.

We've been renovating the lake cottage so right now the entire unfinished basement is like a Grandma's attic: full of junk & treasures. As I was nosing around in there, I came across all of his old mounted fish, collecting serious dust. And I was naughty. hee hee hee hee heee... I'm seriously giggling right now thinking about it. hahahah Well, I ripped off some of the fish & hung the driftwood around the house & used it on tables & window sills. Check out the HUGE piece he found below... I snapped the pic before I even pried off the little thing that holds the fish on. I DOUBT this is still hanging now that I've left, or if it is, there's probably a fish on it.


Here's another little piece I love in the same room:


The only piece I have in my home in Virginia is the one in the shelf below. My dad mounted my first bass on it when I was 4 years old. The poor fish is really beaten up right now (I still have it somewhere) but the driftwood is still in perfect condition and I move it around all the time. Here is in the old basement:

And here it is now (below) in our dining room:

There are lots of websited that sell driftwood if you're not in a spot where you can find your own. Here's one of them: http://www.amazonmoosey.com/ (image below)

Also try this one: http://antlerflowers.com/bases.html (image below)

And one more last pretty pic from House Beautiful. LOVE the candelabra!!! (below)

Do you have any driftwood at home or any ideas what to do with it? Would love to hear!!


xoxo,


lauren

26 comments:

lindsey said...

I love it!
i wish i had the damn idea to make stuff out of drift wood!
thoes lamps and mirrors are amazing!

Linda in AZ * said...

* I've been a lover of this for YEEEEARS~~~ IMHO, there's nothing like it for adding a casual, warm, obviously NATURAL feel & look!!! Thanks for providing a new source!!!
Linda in AZ *

Tricia said...

Beautiful! Anything that reminds me of the beach is a plus to me.
*Tricia

LindsB said...

I love driftwood- there is something about it that is just so interesting. The shape, the history it holds, and the natural element. What a beautiful collection your Dad has.. minus the fish, sorry Dad I'm with Lauren on this one haha.

Maybe you could use his fish in a man room in the house- like an office for him or if you finish the basement. The he will be happy they are included :)

Eileen said...

Oh, I love the tables best of all!
I happen to collect driftwood, and my husband is pretty handy, I should have him make something out of it!

Yesterday we were at the beach and I found a giant plank of wood (of what my husband thinks was siding to somebody's house)! It's over six feet long and it's beautiful, with knot holes, and just the perfect weathered gray. That piece definitely needs to find a project idea!

FROM THE RIGHT BANK said...

Oh, I love those mirrors too. It reminds me of that one mirror in the dark Domino bathroom - do you remember? I still think about that mirror! We were talking about driftwood not long ago and someone local told me that it's illegal here (WA) to take driftwood from the beaches! Apparently, there are certain areas where you can get a permit to take driftwood. I had NO IDEA. I'm glad I didn't go on a big driftwood collecting spree - I could have ended up in the slammer(!)

Christi said...

I was reading an article yesterday in a People magazine. It was an interview with Genevieve Gorder, and she mentioned decorating with driftwood. The article provided a great website; I just checked it out, and they have some great, reasonbly priced things!!!! www.nettletonhollow.com

The Blushing Hostess said...

I love the glass top table and rectangular frame. such a great means of adding texture.

The Blushing Hostess said...

I love the glass top table and rectangular frame. such a great means of adding texture.

Tricia said...

Great post- I'm in love with driftwood too and I love the piece you have hanging!

Jenny Quld said...

I love any thing from driftwood!

I got this link from Lime in the coconut and have been fascinated by the amazing work of this artist:

http://www.heatherjansch.com/index.php


Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

MFAMB said...

yes yes. love the mirrors! and RIGHT BANK, i remember that domino bathroom, still an inspiration of mine for a future bathroom.
and i ALSO just went to the nettleton website..great stuff there.

Tracy Watier said...

Love those mirrors! Driftwood in general isn't really my thing, but I do appreciate it's natural beauty. Target had some woven trays a few months ago that almost got me to bring the driftwood look into my home... so I'll certainly never say never.

Maria Killam said...

I have a client whose home is filled with beach finds and it looks so organic and natural. Great post Lauren, as always!
x
maria

nelya said...

I love driftwood! I love this post! I linked to it over on my blog, hope you don't mind. Thanks for the great sources!

Unknown said...

Love driftwood! I found a gorgeous floor lamp with a driftwood base recently, but it was incredibly expensive so I gave it a miss!

My Galveston Cottage said...

My daughter who helps me with my store just told me the other day that we need to bring in some driftwood tables like you've posted here. I think so. Love the natural look. Makes a room come alive. Thanks for the nice post. cheers, -susan

Siiri said...

Lauren! You wouldn't believe it, but Alek of From the Right Bank to the Left Coast and I have been having an ongoing drift wood conversation on her blog for over 2 months now. We're both in Greater Seattle, and I have some fab ideas I'm wanting to put into action with the drift wood. I'm still searching for the right pieces, but one is a sculptural over-the-headboard piece for Paul's condo. Driftwood is the manly art, I think, among other things.
If you want to see our convo, let me know and I'll send you the link!
-Siir'

Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

Love the sunburst mirror!

Haven and Home said...

You know I love this post!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Well...I am lucky enough to walk the ocean every morning at sunrise with an artist friend. I usually collect rocks for the backyard...but have brought home some driftwood (have some outside with bromeliads grwing in them) Most of the wood goes to her...she creates art with them! Thanks for the great sources. That guys work is lovely!!!

Tiina of livingConcept said...

those items are very beautiful!!

have a lovely weekend!
Tiina
liviaconcepts.blogspot.com

Hablar Salvadoreno said...

Hi there,
Here is my website of driftwood

www.kinbodriftwood.weebly.com

Στρατής said...

Here is the driftwood mirror I have made: http://stratis-art.blogspot.com/2011/02/driftwood-mirror.html

Paul Lloyd said...

Hey I do my own style of driftwood. Google "Mersey Woodstyles" to view my work !

karel13 said...

i have a natural driftwood of trees a hundred years old and buried for forty years in tropical forests.
the tree was left only the hardest part.
if interested, I'll post on my blog soon... http://karel13.blogspot.com/