Upcycling, or reusing items for new furniture or uses in home decor, is reaching a new level of sophistication as artisans and companies recycle old wine barrels.
Furniture and decorative accessories made from wine barrels offer history and quality, said Lisa Johnson, owner of Vintage at Heart (VintageatHeart.net). Her Texas-based company exhibited its hand-crafted wood tables, benches and other items made from barrels during the July 2015 Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market at AmericasMart Atlanta.
“I thought this trend might go away, but people are wanting sustainable, American-made items,” said Johnson, who began the company in 2006.
Here are six products made of retired wine barrels.
Lazy Susan: The original piece in Vintage at Heart's collection remains the bestseller. The Lazy Susan ($160, VintageatHeart.net) is made from a French oak or American oak vintage wine barrel and comes in different finishes — butcher block, dark walnut, European pine and simply red. Each top has the original stamps and markings that indicate where the wood was harvested and who made the barrel. Approximately 22 inches in diameter, the rotating tops also serve as a tabletop display and holder for wine glasses, cheeses or flowers.
Chandelier: RH's 42-inch tall wine barrel chandelier ($1,615, rh.com) is handcrafted in Poland from reclaimed French oak wine barrel hoops and staves, which form the sides of a barrel. Each chandelier is an original with unique cracks and wood variations that can add an elegant yet rustic touch to a dining room.
Side table: RH's 22-inch wine barrel side table ($635, rh.com) is created by the same artisans in Poland. The staves of French oak wine barrels are disassembled, dried and bent into a bowed shape. The table retains distinctive cracks for character and has a hand-applied natural wax finish.
Candle holder: The Arctic Votive Holder ($45, bambeco.com) is made from reclaimed wine cooler bottles and wine barrel slats. The 15-inch long holder fits three votive candles in green or clear recycled glass, according to online retailer Bambeco, a sustainable home goods store.
Tray: Bambeco's 27-inch personalized reclaimed wine barrel tray ($188, bambeco.com) combines retired barrel wood with a wrought iron base to create a sturdy serving platter for your wine bottles or oversized dishes. Each piece, which can be individualized with two lines of 15 characters in Old English text, may have color variations, distressed wood and original markings and vintner brandings.
Vintner's bench: Handcrafted from wine barrel staves, this bench ($300, VintageatHeart.net) uses the natural curve of the barrel to form the seat of the bench. About 34 to 37 inches long and 18 inches high, the bench also could be a good fit for porches, mudrooms and back entryways.
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