The flowing, organic work of Laura Spector Design not only evokes the natural beauty of the backyard, it actually helps preserve nature.
To compose her arbors, arches, and other selections, Spector works with Oriental bittersweet, a vine that’s native to Asia and considered an invasive species because of its aggressive growth habits. Spector says she obtains permits from the National Audubon Society, towns, parks, and other land trusts to “forage their properties to help rid them of this beautiful, but dangerous vine.” Her work, she argues, ultimately “helps save our beautiful specimen trees, while recycling the vines into a functional object of beauty.”
The pieces she designs for outdoor use are treated with two coats of an oil-based wood preservative and finished with polyurethane. To best maintain the products over time, Spector recommends coating the wood with a preservative each spring. Laura Spector Design. 203.254.3952. www.lauraspectordesign.com
