Designer Aly Velji of Aly Velji Designs and Kelly Kask, founder of Reclaimed Trading Company.

  Calgary is truly emerging as a Canadian design hotspot, and one of the key players on the scene is the lovely Aly Velji. We had the pleasure of shooting one of Aly's makeovers for Canadian Living in November, and when I asked him where he'd sourced a particularly striking salvaged-wood side table in the home's living room, I was floored to find out he'd actually designed it himself:   Aly's partnered up with the Calgary-based Reclaimed Trading Company to create the Salvage Furniture line: a collection of furnishings, lighting and accessories made from beautifully weathered wood that's been reclaimed from old farms, barns and buildings across British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Ranging from 60 to 100 years old, the wood lends a time-worn, rustic feel to each of the pieces, but they're perhaps surprisingly versatile, thanks to Aly's chic, contemporary interpretations. What's more, they have a real sense of character. "It's easy to go out and buy a piece from a big box store, but I think every home needs a statement piece with a story behind it," Aly says. For me, a key part of that story is the great "green" angle. There's truly no greener way of decorating than to find new uses for old materials, and that's exactly what this collection is all about. Here are a few of my fave pieces:

I adore this juxtaposition of earthy, weathered wood with a decidedly feminine silhouette. White sheets are the perfect complement to the natural pattern of the reclaimed wood planks. (A splashy printed duvet cover would be far too busy.)  Clover headboard, $1,250, Salvage Furniture:

       

I'm likely never going to get the herringbone floor of my dreams, but this headboard is a handsome compromise. It's like Aly upended the floor of a Parisian pied-a-terre and turned it into furniture. Magnifique! Herringbone headboard, $1,900, Salvage Furniture:

       

Got a dead corner at home? A vintage tripod floor lamp is the perfect remedy. Salvage lamps, Salvage Furniture:

    And what of that makeover of Aly's that I mentioned above? Keep your eyes peeled for the February 2014 issue of Canadian Living, hitting newsstands the first week of January!   Follow me on Twitter!