The core value of Grain Designs lies in the material we have chosen to work with; our name is an expression of this value. The meaning intended by Grain Designs is that it’s an investigation of the finest details of a single piece of wood, the physical wood grain. However, there is a more eloquent underlying meaning. The investigation of “grain” isn’t just the wood grain suggested above, rather each minute detail such as knots, nail holes, and character marks that tell the story each piece of wood.  Grain is also an ode to our region as North Dakota and even some Grain Designs team members were raised on agricultural roots.

The map illustrates the location of Grain Designs salvage projects and where we’ve sourced reclaimed wood from.  Below the significance of reclaimed wood is explained a bit more in detail.

Where our wood is from

Reclaimed wood has a story

Each piece of furniture we create is composed of materials that existed as something else in it’s previous life. Before a table, it was a granary or before a sliding door it was a barn floor. The history and story behind each piece allows the story of the underutilized structure to live on in another form. The wood from an old school house is given a new life which allows the story and legacy of the abandoned school house to live on for years to come, far beyond the school house walls.  Many of the projects incorporate materials from multiple salvaged buildings which lends to a longer list of character, history, and stories for a single piece.  These unique character marks are visual reminders on each of the projects we create

Reclaimed wood is sustainable

In addition to a storied historical significance, the reclaimed materials also share a story of conservation.  The wood we use embraces a series of words we’ve adopted; reclaim, repurpose, reuse.  We reclaim old buildings that are underutilized, repurpose the material, and reuse it to create our new visions for each piece.  This is a sustainable approach that conserves new growth wood resources often used for furniture craft.   The old wood we reclaim or purchase is structurally solid, full of character, and often still of higher quality than new wood you could purchase today. While its often easier and cheaper to use new, machine cut wood, there’s value and history in reclaimed wood that cannot be replicated.

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Abandoned House Reclaimed Wood Salvage Photo
Grain Designs Salvage Photo-2