THE BEAUTY OF RECLAIMED WOOD

DESIGN VALUES

June 2023

Tim Oulton's passion for vintage timber started when he was in the antiques trade, where he began working with timber expert Eddie Gibson. Eddie’s dad made big grandfather clocks made of timber casings, and he’d served in the same army regiment as Tim’s dad, so the families knew each other. Eddie became a wizard with wood, and took Tim under his wing in the early years. The pair continued to work closely together for many years, and today Eddie works closely with Tim's son Oli, repurposing old wood in new and exciting ways for the Timothy Oulton Collection.

Much of our timber is salvaged from the beams and structures of old English buildings, over a century old. The story begins at the demolition site, where the wood is collected and transported to the Timothy Oulton workshop to be graded, sorted, and de-nailed. Nails can only be removed by hand, not mechanically, because they occur randomly in the salvaged wood. To recondition enough wood to make one mirror, around 400 nails must be removed.

The wood is left as much as possible in its natural state. Splits, scars, dents, cracks and nicks from decades of use are preserved, forming a characterful surface finish that is impossible to recreate on new timber.

GENUINE ENGLISH RECLAIMED TIMBER

Our GERT finish - Genuine English Reclaimed Timber - is sourced from disused barns, distilleries and other buildings in the UK, sometimes up to a century old. Once the wood has been graded in our workshops, the nails have to be removed by hand, not mechanically, because they occur randomly in the salvaged wood. To recondition enough wood to make one mirror, around 400 nails must be removed.

SHOP RECLAIMED TIMBER COLLECTION

RECLAIMED VINTAGE BOAT WOOD

The Axel range crosses old world and industrial with its combination of reclaimed wood from decommissioned Chinese junks and hand-treated metal detailing. After decades of exposure to the high seas and elements, the reclaimed boat wood from the hulls, decking, and beams of the Chinese boats reflects uniquely weathered colourations and textures.

SHOP RECLAIMED TIMBER COLLECTION

SALVAGED PARQUET FLOORING

The striking Edwardian collection is fashioned from reclaimed parquetry oak and mahogany, originally forming the floors of Edwardian dancehalls and other buildings in the UK. The reclamation of the wood is a long and arduous journey; each block is carefully removed by hand and cleaned before making its way to our workshop, where craftsmen use meticulous skill to lay each block - by hand - into the distinctive chevron pattern, creating a rustic surface full of personality and charm.

SHOP RECLAIMED TIMBER COLLECTION

RECLAIMED CHINESE ELM

The Crofters collection celebrates the beauty of old elm timber in its most primal, natural form. No detailing has been added, just simple artisanal construction methods that highlight the timber's beautiful grain pattern and characterful knots and fissures from its past life. The Italians call it arte povera or "impoverished art", a return to simple objects and messages where the everyday becomes meaningful. We call it humble luxury.

SHOP RECLAIMED TIMBER COLLECTION

"I’ve always loved reclaimed wood, it has an honesty and a purity, what I call humble luxury. I don’t like luxury for luxury’s sake, but humble luxury where the material is unfinished. Old wood is seasoned; the colour’s better, it feels better, it just looks more natural.”

Tim Oulton

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THE BEAUTY OF RECLAIMED WOOD

GENUINE ENGLISH RECLAIMED TIMBER

RECLAIMED VINTAGE BOAT WOOD

SALVAGED PARQUET FLOORING

RECLAIMED CHINESE ELM