Celebrate the Crush With Wine Barrel Furniture
From wine country to you: Enjoy the rich patina of wine-barrel wood in chandeliers, furniture, floors and more
Debbie Snider
October 7, 2011
Houzz Contributor.
Crush Season is later than usual here in Northern California, and it will likely extend through November. This is the annual event when grapes are harvested, crushed and stored at wineries. In honor of Crush, let's look at some ingenious home furnishing items made from reclaimed oak wine barrels. Artists have long made useful things for the home from the staves, barrel heads, and the metal hoops that keep the barrels together. Not only are many of these products clever and beautiful, they are upcycled: instead of being wasted, the materials are used to make something of equal or greater value. Here are 8 of my favorites.
1. Chandelier. This chandelier from Restoration Hardware is made from the staves, the narrow strips of wood which form the sides of the wine barrel, and hoops. With both flared and rounded lines, it has a sculptural quality and an Old-World vibe.
2. Basket. I love the simplicity of this handled basket. The slight curves keep it from being crate-like and make a very functional and decorative container.
3. Cooler. An oak barrel is used to give a woody flavor to wine. After it is no longer useful for that purpose, it makes a great beverage cooler. This half barrel is conveniently raised on a stand and has a spigot for draining water.
4. Arm chair. The wood used for wine barrels must be flawless and without knotholes so that the container is airtight. This handsome arm chair made with richly patinaed staves is a one-of-a-kind furniture piece with loads of character.
5. Lazy susan. The barrel head is the perfect size for a serving platter or Lazy Susan. The metal hoop and wine stamp remind you of its origin.
6. Side table. The clean lines of this side table make it suitable for many interior styles. The dark color is the result of wine penetrating the wood of the barrel. Three sets of strips cut from the metal hoops overlap to create artistic bracing for this unique piece.
7. Hardwood floor. Wine barrel heads make beautiful hardwood floors. This particular floor features the outside portion of the barrel revealing a rich patina and authentic stamps and markings.
See more innovative floors
See more innovative floors
8. Dog Bed. With a simple cut out and a custom cushion, this wine-barrel dog bed is a stylish and comfy place for your furry friend.
And a wine barrel turned into an artful doghouse from Austin's annual Barkitecture fundraiser.
See more wild doghouses
See more wild doghouses
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