A Conscious Alternative

This — seriously cool — stool / side table stands at just below 2 feet. It functions well as a portable seat, or side table next to your bed. The coolest part of all: it’s made of 100% natural, upcycled teak wood. I can also pretty much guarantee you that you find many people with this stool. So if being unique is part of your game…

A Conscious Alternative

This is a brilliant way to use / upcycle reclaimed wood. It’s completely handmade, and according to the maker, requires 2 to 3 weeks of work to putt together. Just like the piece above, it’s unique. I doubt you’ll find anyone else with wood wall art like this. The maker writes that this mosaic is made “from pine elements…each has been cut and painted by hand, so the picture is unique and never will have an identical copy.” Got to give them credit for putting this together.

A Conscious Alternative

If you’re thinking that this piece requires a certain aesthetic (i.e., that it wouldn’t fit into any regular apartment), I would tend to agree. Given the retro and rustic look and feel, it may be hard to fit this piece into an existing room. But, if you’re moving into a new place — or if you’re apartment has this look — then, yes, I would totally recommend it.

A Conscious Alternative

This is another seriously awesome piece of wood wall art. It has a bit more of a classic, clean feel than the one above, in my opinion. The maker, who’s based Oklahoma, offers these details about the construction process, “This wall art is made from upcycled wood scraps. We left this piece in its most raw state by honoring the saw marks, bark, and “imperfections” that made this wood unusable by the cabinetry shop we salvaged it from.”

A Conscious Alternative

As you may have read from my last kit, I enjoy the look of coffee tables in a room. I think it brings a room together. Anyhow, this table stood out to me for its minimalist aesthetic and conscious design. It’s crafted from 100% salvaged and reclaimed barn wood and planks.

A Conscious Alternative

Get ready to expand your mind a bit here — but I imagine this to be a cool and unique seat and storage piece. You can also use it, literally, as a stepping stool in your kitchen or closet. It has a lot of uses. But, seriously, imagine putting this in your living room as a multi-leveled seating piece and storage area for books. That’d be cool.

A Conscious Alternative

If you’re thinking, “This looks really nice…I bet it’s expensive” — you’d be right. It’s $749. If it makes you feel any better, if you’re considering getting one, each piece is handmade from responsibly forested FSC certified Oak wood (formaldehyde-free). It’s also coated in real bronze, then hand oiled with UV and abrasion resistant oil. It’s a piece of high-quality, sustainable furniture. Perhaps an investment for a later date.