Nature Contained

Faux bois, from the French for false wood, refers to the process of creating furniture in a wood-like appearance out of cast stone, iron or cement. Faux bois pieces are so natural and rustic; they just feel very spring-like to me. Dormant wooden log, filled with sprouting bulb materials, pussy willows and moss; what a treat for the last slushy Saturday of winter.

Richard designed this planting for the 2004 This Old House Carlisle Show house.

Faux bois has become a bit of a joke between Richard and me. Richard was being filmed while creating the planter above and being the camera shy man he is, he stumbled through twenty-five takes turning three times redder than he already is. The part we love to act out is where Richard shows the resident landscape contractor, Roger Cook, the faux bois vessel. Roger asks Richard what material the planter is constructed of and on the director’s instruction Richard gets down on one knee, slaps the vessel two times and replies “FAUX BOIS” while gazing directly into the camera.

Being a bit foolish and sometimes silly from the insane hours we work in the hot sun, Richard and I find it amusing to gently slap random displays of false wood and call out “FAUX BOIS”. It must be somewhat contagious for I have heard David partake a few times as well.

Twenty-five takes!!! The best part of this all is that we have never seen the actual airing, This Old House, Program 2426. We have constructed this reenactment from memory of the taping and from our dear friend Julie’s animated impersonation.

It will be a magical night filled with drink and laughter when good ol’ Tivo captures this one! We will keep you posted if a re-airing is in the near future.