The Lupine Cottage

Meet Lupine Artisan Russ Lloyd, Reclaimed Wooden Rustics

I have always been drawn to rustic furnishings, especially things that are made from old wood; barn boards, reclaimed lumber, driftwood and repurposed “stuff.” There is an artistic value to the use of this material as well as a nod to the past which I have found to be quite compelling.

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Early influences, believe it or not, were background furnishings that the artists drew for cartoons that my kids used to watch; “The Flintstones” and “Smurfs” in particular. We loved the use of natural materials and the personality that it brought to the characters’ homes! As I slowly moved toward retirement from my carpentry business, I began to collect old or otherwise interesting wood that was being torn apart during remodeling work which was inevitably destined for a landfill. I’d scrounge what I could, bring it home and then make frames for photos (often for my customers), artwork and signage. The more I worked with this material, the more I liked it.

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I gradually expanded the types of furnishings that I built to include coatracks, mirrors, benches for entryways and business signs. For many years now I have also used live-edge pine slabs - sawn from my own property in many cases - to create benches, night-stands and shelving. Interestingly, these rustic pieces look terrific not only in farmhouses, log homes and artistic spaces, but equally beautiful in more traditional, even modern settings. My wife and I have lived in Brooks, Maine now for over 40 years. We raised two kids here - they both live nearby – and now we have a grandson! Life is good! Thank you for your interest and thanks to Lupine Cottage for accepting my work into its lovely store. I feel as though I’m in good company.