The definition of the word “derelict” hovers somewhere between “left behind,” “abandoned by society,” and “guilty of neglect.” That said, I understand the impetus behind the Estonian firm of the same name, even though the exquisite wooden furniture created by Tõnis Kalve and Ahti Grünberg is anything but neglected.

Low Lounge Chairs from Reclaimed Wood. Designed by Tõnis Kalve and Ahti Grünberg. Manufactured by Derelict.

Derelict’s Handcrafted Wooden Furniture Signifies New Life for Castoff Wood

As many contemporary artisans across the globe are beginning to understand, just because it’s second hand doesn’t mean it can’t be stunningly original. Derelict knows of what I speak. The company designs and manufactures wooden furniture of all stripes, using as their primary material re-sourced (once derelict) wood.

The key to the immense appeal of Derelict’s line of chairs, tables, and stools lies in the way they integrate the old with the new. Or, more accurately, turn the old back into the new. Because, as anyone who’s worked with reclaimed wood will doubtless know, it takes no small amount of studious reconfiguration to turn abandoned packing crates, peeling barnwood, or decrepit OSB into a sleek new furnishing.

Derelict handpicks every length of wood which they’ll ultimately fashion into a wholly original creation. The company uses a wide variety of different types and different tones, right down to pieces with the tell-tale markings of packaged lumber.

Derelict incorporates the occasional swath of vivid yellow, the periodic slash of stunning red, into a low table and high chair respectively. Beyond the latter two, the company’s product offering includes a pair of low lounge chairs with a nifty storage niche beneath the seat.

Via Inhabitat.

About the Manufacturer: Design duo Tõnis Kalve and Ahti Grünberg show particular resourcefulness in the endeavor they refer to as Derelict. In employing exclusively reclaimed wood for their line of chairs, stools, and tables, the company has created a manufacturing paradigm for the new millennium: impressively resourceful, ecologically sustainable, and aesthetically intriguing.