Reclaimed wood is a beloved trend seen in many interiors from flooring and paneling to walls and ceilings, however there is more to it than its eye-catching beauty. Salvage Works, a 25,000 square foot warehouse in North Portland, is a family-owned business that supplies only reclaimed wood from the Pacific Northwest. During Design Week Portland, Heritage School of Interior Design was fortunate to tour the distinguished showroom and learn about the process of Salvage Works. It begins with the small team who travels around Oregon and Southwest Washington to find rustic barns and reclaimed wood to bring into the store. The team barters with farmers, ranchers and barn-owners to take down the barns by hand to avoid split wood that is caused from bulldozers. Then it is brought to the shop and every single nail and piece of metal is removed by hand! Lead paint is not welcome and one last thing to boast about is the waste limit- the leftovers go to employees or the public to heat homes and sawdust is donated for chickens and horses. Talk about tender-loving-care, when you purchase from Salvage Works you are paying for quality and carefully considered materials! Doug Fir, Patina and Redwood are the most popular varieties available. The reclaimed wood can be used for doors, floors, walls, ceilings, baseboards, shelves, furniture and table flats or bar counters. Salvage Work’s primary clientele in Portland are restaurants and bars that use the wood for flats and counters, so the next time you dine out and sit at a bar top with a live-edge slab and an urban cut it is most likely from Salvage Works!
Salvage Works has been in Portland for 7 years but 2 years ago the business relocated to the remarkable 25,000 square foot warehouse in the Kenton neighborhood in North Portland. At Salvage Works designers, craftsmen and DIY fanatics will find a variety of reclaimed wood from the Pacific Northwest. Special to this family-owned and local business is the “WOW Wall Cladding that is a distinct collection of reclaimed wood that is milled to create one of a kind accent walls” which is seen throughout the showroom. Another unique trait is the inventory that constantly rotates, offering quite the variety to clients. Also the workshop at Salvage Works creates custom furniture that is crafted to accentuate the natural beauty of the wood. Visit Salvage Works on North Argyle Street just around the corner from Paul Bunyan.
