When women see this item, the usual reaction is, "Aw, it's SO cute!" When guys see it, the usual reaction is, "You call THAT little thing a bench?!" To which I reply, "It's a cottage bench, you moron! It's not supposed to be huge!"

When it comes to home furnishings, many men take a bigger-is-better approach. They just don't appreciate the beauty and charm of a well-placed cottage bench. Thank goodness for the ladies.

The reclaimed wood used in this handcrafted bench has several unique characteristics, including nail holes, knots, and traces of old white paint. Some of the boards are split, warped and discolored from years of exposure to the elements. But those imperfections give this one-of-a-kind bench an attractive rustic appearance. Several hand-applied coats of a durable satin finish enhance the wood's natural beauty and laminate the paint remnants to the wood. (And, no, the puppy is not included.)

This little beauty is ready-to-ship to anywhere in the U.S. via UPS. Please contact me for shipping cost to your location.

This bench is also available for pick up, or I'll provide free delivery in the Fresno, California area. Delivery elsewhere in Central California is available for a reasonable charge based on mileage.

Dimensions: 17" x 36" x 18"h
Weight: 27 lbs.

You can see more pictures of this bench and my other reclaimed-wood pieces at my Facebook page. And while you're there, don't forget to "Like" it.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marks-Reclaimed-Wood-Creations/132460293476092?...

Back in December, when I picked up the broken pieces of a few large tree planters from the Broadway Lofts in downtown Fresno, I wasn't sure how I would use them. Later I realized the tapered side panels, most of which were still intact, could be made into very unique tops for coffee tables.

When I made the coffee table in these pictures, I wanted to keep the tapered panel as original as possible, complete with nail heads, nail holes and gaps between the boards. The only structural change I made was adding an extra brace underneath to make the tabletop sturdier. The legs and leg braces are made from the beat-up 2x4's that once held the planter boxes together.

The table was finished with several hand-applied coats of a durable satin finish that enhances the wood's natural beauty. (The entire table was hand-sanded between coats.)

I have only a few of these panels, so if you're interested in purchasing this coffee table or one like it for $175, please send me an email at ReclaimedWoodGoods@gmail.com

This item is available for pick up, or I'll provide free delivery in the Fresno, California area. Delivery elsewhere in Central California is available for a reasonable charge based on mileage.

Buyer from outside of California will be responsible for choosing and paying a carrier for freight pick up and delivery.

Once in awhile, I'm fortunate enough to cross paths with somebody who alleviates my disappointment in humanity, somebody who reminds me that generosity, kindness and graciousness are traits that, while endangered, are not quite extinct. That's exactly what happened last week when I received a phone call from a soft-spoken woman named Marion, who had seen one of my tables in Fresno Magazine. She told me that she and her husband, Martin, had something that might interest me. That "something" is a large 28" x 35" picture frame made from one America's first transcontinental telegraph poles, which were produced in the 1860's. (Yes, I said TELEGRAPH, not telephone.) As you can see in the accompanying pictures, the wood is very weathered, and has a distinct Wild-West look. For decades, the frame hung in the couple's spacious north Fresno home, displaying a beautiful watercolor by a local artist. But now, Martin and Marion are moving to a senior-living retirement community, and they no longer have room for the frame. They didn't put it on EBay or Craigslist. They didn't take it to a consignment shop. They didn't want to sell it. They just wanted to give it to somebody who would appreciate its uniqueness. They simply wanted to find a good home for this one-of-a-kind frame. Thank you again, Martin and Marion. Your frame is in good hands.

Check out this cool blurb from the current issue (January 2011) of Fresno Magazine. And if you don't "Like" our Facebook page yet, what are you waiting for? Do it!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marks-Reclaimed-Wood-Creations/132460293476092?...

Here's a preview of one of my current projects, a reclaimed-wood pub table. The top is made from a side panel of some large tree planters I picked up several weeks ago. Although it's not quite finished, I think it already looks pretty cool. I have only a limited supply of these planters, so if you're interested in a unique 2-person pub table, contact me soon. And PLEASE visit and "Like" our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marks-Reclaimed-Wood-Creations/132460293476092

Here's a big ol' reclaimed-wood welcome to everybody who discovered this website via "I Heart Fresno" (http://Iheartfresnoca.com) Congratulations to Dominique Mayfield James (who just so happens to be my favorite daughter), Cambria Avedikian, and Josh Glaze for putting together such a cool site! I'm proud that Reclaimed Wood Creations has an ad on the home page!

I'm always looking for new sources of old, used, abused, beat-up, neglected, weathered or just plain worn-out wood. If you live in the central valley (California), and have recently demolished a barn, shed, corral, etc, or have a pile of old wood that's cluttering up your property, don't send it to a landfill! Instead, email me at mark.mayfield@comcast.net If it's what I'm looking for, I'll be happy to pick it up.

I'm not interested in wood that's had an easy life. If it's been sheltered from the elements, I probably don't want it. Nor am I interested in wood that's been treated with chemical preservatives. I want wood that proudly bears the scars of a hard life of service to mankind. Nail holes and hammer marks? The more the merrier. Discoloration and deterioration make me happy. I like splits and cracks. I LOVE old fence boards.

Here are a few close-up pictures of wood with the characteristics I want.

(Okay, I know that "gonna" and "purty" aren't proper English, but I wanted this note to have a down-home, on-the-farm vibe.)

Since my last square coffee table was so well-received, I decided to make another one just in time for last-minute Christmas shoppers who are looking for a one-of-a-kind handcrafted gift. Measuring 28" x 28" x 18" h., this one is smaller than my previous square coffee tables, but it's just as purty, um, uh, I mean "pretty." And since it's smaller, the price is smaller, too! This coffee table would look great in a game room, man-cave, cabin, beach house, or in any room with an informal, rustic theme. It'll be finished on 12/15, and will be priced for a quick sale at only $125. For more information, email me at mark.mayfield@comcast.net

I must admit that after I finished this coffee table, I briefly considered keeping it forever. When I placed it in the living room to shoot this video, it just looked so happy, so comfortable, so much at home. And when I removed it, I could sense its deep disappointment.

"Please let me stay, Mark!" it seemed to plead. "I love this place!"

"Don't worry, coffee table," I replied with a reassuring voice. "I promise to find you a loving owner who will truly appreciate your uniqueness and give you a wonderful new home." (Yes, I occasionally try to talk with inanimate objects, including those annoying employees at the DMV.)

I hope somebody reading this post will help me fulfill the promise I made to this beautifully unconventional coffee table. Watch the video, and be prepared to fall in love.

My daughter finally convinced me to make a Facebook page for my favorite hobby: making new things from old wood. I resisted her suggestion at first because I wasn't sure that folks would be very interested in a page devoted to eco-friendly wood furniture. In fact, I still have my doubts. Please prove me wrong by visiting "Mark's Reclaimed Wood Creations" on Facebook and clicking the "Like" button. I'll periodically post pictures, videos and prices of my latest projects. So far, the page has five photo albums of my recent projects. Thanks in advance for checking out (and "Liking") the page.