6 Outdoor Projects That Showcase the Wonders of Sustainable Redwood
Prized for their gorgeous color and fine, even grain, the lumber and timbers of today’s redwood industry come in a range of dimensions, lengths, and grades that look striking and wear excellently.
"The versatility and aesthetic appeal of redwood are hard to beat," says Jessica Hewitt of Humboldt Sawmill in California, a company that’s been practicing responsible forestry management—including wildlife habitat conservation—for more than a decade.
Hook & Ladder Winery outfitted its grounds with redwood, which, known for its natural durability and fire-resistant properties, remains a go-to for hardworking outdoor structures.
Hewitt points out that choosing redwood sourced from replanted (known as second-growth) forests also helps heal the earth’s ozone layer. "Each year, we grow more trees than we harvest," she says, noting today’s redwood industry not only protects existing old-growth stands, but helps pull large amounts of carbon emissions from the atmosphere—yet another reason to opt for the warm and inviting material.
And, of course, redwood is strong. Hewitt cites, for example, the timbers that Hook & Ladder Winery used to anchor a sail awning for its outdoor space in Northern California. "I don’t think you could visit and not notice the redwood," says Devin Ruddick, the winery’s VP of national sales.
From simple pavilions to major home additions, here are six outdoor projects that put rich, welcoming redwood to use in imaginative ways.
A Refurbished Redwood Pergola Enhances the Spanish-Style Charm of This Hollywood Hills Home
Redwood timbers accentuate the home’s ranch-style influences and provide crucial support for a lush canopy of tree-like trumpet vines. Left to its own devices, redwood ages gracefully, acquiring a rich texture and variegated patina that ensures a lifetime of beauty.
Natural redwood pergolas provide shady places to linger at Jeriko Estate and Resort in Hopland, California. "Redwood has a way of dissolving boundaries between garden rooms and their picturesque surroundings," says Hewitt.
New pergolas, arbors, and planter boxes made of redwood define a series of showcase homes in West Linn, Oregon. Hewitt notes, "Natural tannins in redwood resist decay and termites, making it ideal for gardens and landscaping."
Hefty redwood timbers support this handsome addition to a two-story home in California. The owners chose redwood for its natural warmth, noting they wanted to create something "simple and elegant—not too modern, but also not overtly traditional."
The pergola-topped tasting area at ZO Winery in Sonoma County, California, is made of redwood and features a stained redwood deck that contrasts nicely with the main structure’s concrete exterior.
A multilevel deck adds 1,200 square feet of outdoor living space to this retreat in British Columbia. The floor’s deep, reddish hue glows against a backdrop of sparkling blue water just steps away.
Learn more about the design and functionality benefits of Humboldt Sawmill Company’s responsibly sourced redwood by visiting getredwood.com.
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