driftwood

Driftwood is wood that has been washed ashore. The wood gets its characteristic white look from the the woods decomposition while reacting to the natural levels of chlorine in water. Wood that has been collected from salt water sources will have a smoother more even texture due to the dioxins that have built in the wood from soaking in seawater. These dioxins are rather toxic and carcinogenic if burned, though harmless otherwise. Since driftwood is a natural decomposed material it rarely needs to be treated if you are working with it, unless it is of a larger installation. Driftwood in many states can give your home beach cabin look, I like drivvt's use of the material in a chandelier, or pottery barn's use of it in a more contemporary mirror. Mix and match succulents in a driftwood container like vivaterra offers. The most interesting use of it was produced by an artist on San Juan, who created hollow spheres that were placed back on the shoreline and can be linked though The Ragens website.