Decorating & Design

May 5, 2011

Furniture From Fishing Boats

While scouting for props for a recent photo shoot, I stumbled across a great new shop on Queen Street East here in Toronto. It’s called Zenporium and it’s located at 998 Queen Street East. Inside I found some really great items, all with an incredible story.

Now that it’s starting to feel like spring, I find myself craving colour more than anything, and Zenporium definitely delivers on that. Their combination of contemporary and rustic design is amazing — especially how they’re able to pull it off in such a unique and sustainable way.

They stock an incredible line of furniture and accessories made from old Malaysian and Indonesian fishing boats. It may be hard to believe, but the salvaged wood is completely as is. The layers of colour come from the many different coats of paint these old boats have seen and the wear is from years of sitting on the water.

I could see these pieces working in either a contemporary or new-age country interior. I’d love to use a side chair on a back patio, or lean an art piece or mirror over a fireplace.

Just like stately antiques, these pieces have had a previous life, and instead of the boats sinking to the bottom of the sea, they’re turned into one-of-a-kind works of art. Love it!

For more vintage inspiration, read Michael Penney’s blog post Adding Soul With Vintage Finds.

Photo credits:
1-4. Joel Bray