There’s no doubt as to the allure of antique furniture with its weathered surfaces and depth of character. There’s a reason die-hards and casual enthusiasts will spend entire weekends perusing the endless aisles of antique shops all over the country.

But, there are some drawbacks to these attractive pieces that you might not consider through the excitement of finding an old school treasure. Many old pieces might not have been kept up well, or they might not fit into your home’s design.

If you want all of the charm of antique furniture, but with a more cohesive and functional finish, Manomin Resawn Timbers has an excellent solution. We have worked with a number of builders and designers to create wonderful custom reclaimed wood furniture to add a special flair to their homes.

The Draw Of Antique Wood

What is it that people love so much about antique furniture? At Manomin Resawn Timbers, we know it’s the wood. From aesthetics to durability, old wood is special, and it makes a huge impact in any home.

Timber from the 18th and 19th centuries, when much of this furniture was made, grew over a much longer period of time than the modern stuff. This results in very tightly packed growth rings and a higher amount of dense heartwood.

Because of these qualities, old growth wood makes for a perfect building material. It is hard, sturdy, lasts a long time, and is naturally resistant to rot. This is why we can still find so many beautiful antique pieces throughout the country.

The other thing we love about these old wood furnishings is their look. As wood ages, it forms a natural patina that accents its grooves and grains and belies a history that modern wood simply doesn’t have.

Custom reclaimed wood furniture in a modern bathroom. Bathroom vanity made from reclaimed white oak. White tile on the walls and floors with the upper walls painted a deep blue.

The Downside To Antique Furniture

There are a number of difficulties when it comes to incorporating antique pieces into your home design. While it can certainly be worth the trouble, here are some things you might consider before going after these old fixtures.

The first and largest difficulty is that you have to find whatever you are looking for. Antique shops, while full of treasures, might not always have what you are looking for. And while many people enjoy their afternoons spent in those crowded aisles, it might not be the most efficient way to furnish your home.

When you do find a piece you like, it might not always be in great condition. The wood might be warped or damaged, or mechanical parts could be broken or hard to operate. This would necessitate the item being refurbished or to be used as is with less than ideal function.

If you envision your home with a strong sense of design and style, it could be difficult to match an antique piece to your aesthetic or to other items you already own. This could result in a less cohesive look and feel for your home with you always searching for the right piece.

These areas of difficulty can be avoided by building your own antiques with custom reclaimed wood furniture.

Unfinished reclaimed wood tabletop in a woodshop. The tabletop is irregular shaped with wood ties embedded in it to link the planks together.

Custom Reclaimed Wood Furniture Checks All The Boxes

Reclaimed wood is cut from the same cloth as those antiques that we love. The wood we salvage at Manomin Reclaimed Timbers comes directly from old barns, warehouses, and factories that were made at the same time and with the same wood as the sought after furniture.

18th and 19th century American timbers were an abundant building material and found many uses with the homesteaders and industrialists of the era. Because of the durability of old growth wood, we are still able to reclaim and refit wood from those old structures today.

Our reclaimed wood will have the same hardiness and aesthetic qualities as your favorite antiques, but with one big advantage: you can build it however you like!

In the world of antiquing, you must always be on the hunt for a perfect piece to fit in your home, but with custom reclaimed wood furniture, you can select the exact wood you want, and have a skilled carpenter build to your exact specifications.

The result will be a beautiful piece of brand new furniture that has all of the history of an antique. These furnishings can blend seamlessly into your design, or they can stand out as the centerpiece of the room.

Since the wood is treated and milled before it gets to your home, there should be no worry of warped or ill-fitting planks, and the new hardware will ensure easy use. Additionally, you can plan drawers or cupboards to your exact needs instead of having to put up with non-ideal configurations.

See Some Of Our Favorite Custom Reclaimed Wood Furniture

The skilled craftsmen that we work with have given new life to this elegant material time and time again. We’d love to share some of our favorite pieces from over the years.

Custom reclaimed wood vanity in a guest bathroom. The vanity has double sinks and is made in a dark stained antique pine. A walk in shower is visible to one side and a toilet to the other.

This custom reclaimed wood vanity was made from a unique reclaimed pine that we were saving for a special project like this Medina Luxury Home from Wooddale Builders. The dark stained wood stands out from the whites and grays of the contemporary design.

The presence of this old timber gives a modern rustic feel that warms up the place and adds an elegant finish to the whole home. The built-in vanity takes a place that would be impossible to fill with a found antique.

A close up of custom reclaimed wood cabinets made from dark stained antique pine wood. Deep marks and wood grain is visible in the cabinet doors and drawers.

These custom reclaimed wood cabinets also took shape in this luxurious home, adding character with their authentic lines and markings that truly make the piece feel like an antique. In reality, this beautiful cupboard was designed and built by the talented Tays & Co. Design Studio along with all of the other custom furniture in this wonderful home.

A contemporary bar area made with reclaimed wood and custom reclaimed wood furniture. The bar is made from reclaimed pine timbers and has a marble counter and hanging display shelf above it with stemware racks. In the background more reclaimed wood paneling covers the walls and high ceiling.

Tays & Co. also put together this professional bar for Wes Hanson Builders, using hefty white pine timbers as the frame. With a smattering of reclaimed white oak and elm throughout the rest of the build, the room feels very natural and welcoming while still maintaining clean, modern lines.

Custom reclaimed wood door faced with hand hewn timbers. The door is narrow with a rounded top and sits against a wall of darker stained wood panels.

Our custom reclaimed wood furniture doesn’t stop at cupboards and cabinets either. This powder room door is faced with our iconic hand hewn timbers for a truly rustic look.

If a more modern aesthetic is desired, you don’t have to take our reclaimed wood the antique direction. Many of our options can take a more modern form while still bringing the character and appeal of old wood.

Custom reclaimed wood furniture, white oak bathroom vanity. The bathroom has white subway tile half walls, white and black hexagonal floor tiles, and an upper wall painted deep blue.

This crisp new bathroom vanity from JKath Design makes use of our beautiful reclaimed white oak to add an eye catching feature to this Edina bathroom. The deep brown stands out against the pristine white tile and adds dimension to the room.

While the design and finish of the vanity feel modern, the wood itself still bears markings from a century’s old milling. The history is never forgotten with any piece of reclaimed wood furniture.

Put Custom Reclaimed Wood Furniture In Your Home

Whether you’re in the midst of a remodel, or just want to spruce up your living space, adding a piece of custom reclaimed wood furniture to your home is a great way to add elegance and function to any design.

Reach out to Manomin Resawn Timbers here to get a quote on some of our beautiful reclaimed wood, and we’d be happy to steer you towards a talented designer that can craft something special from it.