Like our favorite characters in fiction and film, furniture with a good backstory has unmistakable appeal. New designs using reclaimed wood are conversation starters that will also stand the test of time:

Inflated Wood by Cappellini: Part of Zanini de Zanine’s limited edition Reclaimed Woods series, Inflated Wood plays with new shapes for wood furniture using exclusively Brazilian hardwoods recovered from columns, beams, stairs, and other architectural elements in demolished Brazilian homes. www.cappellini.it

F.T.B. by Busnelli: A new interpretation of Jacopo Gardella’s 1980s bookcase, Busnelli’s F.T.B. shelving system is uses light and dark wood, with side elements made partially with recycled panels. Shelves are made of metal sheet coated with acid-oxidized brass, with matching metal supports. www.busnelli.it

Broom by Emeco: Philippe Starck and Emeco’s Broom chair is made from 75 percent waste polypropylene and 15 percent reclaimed wood-material that would normally be swept into the trash is now a stackable, and eventually recyclable, side chair available in a range of colors. www.emeco.net

Mill by Mater: Wood salvaged from mills and other wooden structures being demolished to make way for modern factories is reborn in Mater’s Mill collection of furniture, which includes bar- and coffee-height tables with cast recycled aluminum bases. www.mater.dk

Battista by Slamp: A poplar wood base of recycled timber provides a sculptural frame for Battista’s Cristalflex shade. Each limited edition, designed by Nigel Coates, is branded and signed to ensure authenticity. www.slamp.it