Category: Old Barn Star Inside Look

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Barnwood Furniture: Where it All Began

Barnwood furniture has grown in popularity over the years along with reclaimed furniture from all different time periods. But when did this trend start?Barn Raising

The idea of using barn lumber to create furniture actually became very popular in the 1920s. During this time American Folk Art was discovered which had a heavy influence on this idea of barnwood furniture especially amongst the Amish community. The Amish dedicate their lives to a simple and non-materialistic lifestyle. As a result, the people of the community picked up different skills to make their essentials by hand; one major pastime being handcrafted furniture.

As many of you know, woodworking is not an easy task! A lot of time (and love) goes into every piece. Amish reclaimed barnwood furniture is all about detail. Each piece of wood is handpicked for its unique quality. These sacred woodworking skills are passed by practice through generations and generations, so while the furniture may not have been crafted in the 1600s, its methods have not changed over the years!

Alongside the Amish wood working tradition is the popular “barn raising” season, celebrating community, hard work and the common goals of the community. As part of the barn raising celebration, members of the Amish community build barns for different resources including housing, farming and schools. Over time the wood from these barns would be harvested and use to handcraft barnwood furniture.

Benefits of Amish-made Barnwood Furniture

  • Custom-made: Since barnwood furniture is hand made you can specialize each piece. The design and craftsmanship will speak for itself.
  • Natural look: No two pieces will ever be identical due to the nature of our work and the material.
  • Eco-friendly: Barnwood furniture is focused around the idea of conserving and preventing the unnecessary falling of trees.
  • Strong and sturdy: Wood ages with time and since it was harvested a while ago its classic texture guarantees to be sturdy.
  • Weather resistant: Most barnwood furniture is made for indoor and outdoor use, meaning there is a water-resistant topcoat.

Barnwood Furniture

A handcrafted piece of reclaimed wood furniture is truly one-of-a-kind. You’ll never see a duplicate because there’s something special and unique about the process of working with your hands.

That is why we love what we do – we are able to connect people with authentic furniture pieces that are rooted in centuries of tradition.

Why did you choose to invest in a piece of barnwood furniture? Tell us in the comments below!

| Jessica Guida

Custom Lounge Tables at Le Malt Brown Spirits & Wine Lounge in NJ

We are completely honored to have had the opportunity to work with the designers of Le Malt, a new brown spirits and wine lounge in New Jersey. To be honest, we think we make the perfect pair—every exquisite cocktail should rest upon an equally fine table!

Unique Cocktail Tables, Spirits and Cuisine

Located in Colonia, New Jersey, Le Malt features 750 brown spirits from around the world, including bourbons, cognacs, brandies and aged tequilas. In addition, they offer a menu of 100 still and sparkling wines carefully chosen by their sommelier. What better way to celebrate an occasion than with a 200th Anniversary Jonnie Walker around a reclaimed barnwood table that could be just as old!

Le Malt also features a sophisticated small plates menu, designed by Executive Chef Duke Estime to be shared amongst friends. Ordering a plethora of plates to sit atop one of their unique cocktail tables within the lounge is encouraged!

Working with Le Malt’s designers at Roomology™ Staging, a full-service professional staging company, was an amazing experience and a project we’re very proud of. Take a look at some of the custom lounge tables we created for them in the pictures below. Be sure to continue reading to learn more about our work with Roomology and Le Malt, directly from the owner of Roomology™ Staging!

custom lounge tables

Le Malt Went Custom with Rustic Barnwood Lounge Tables

“At Roomology™ Staging we aim to improve the look of any space, whether it’s your home or a commercial property. For this project we, at Roomology™ Staging, wanted to find unique rustic coffee tables that would not only counter balance the rich leather Chesterfield seating and high-gloss molding, but would stand up to spills, water marks, and the usual wear and tear expected in a restaurant/lounge.

Because the floor space was limited, we needed tables that were relatively small, but large enough to accommodate food and drinks for 2 guests. Our timelines were tight, so we initially scoured the Internet and visited many furniture stores for ‘off the shelf’ products. But, after weeks of unsuccessful searching, we realized we needed to go custom. That’s when we contacted Old Barn Star.

We first heard of Old Barn Star from good friends who recently purchased a new custom built dining table with benches; they were gorgeous! Old Barn Star was able to work closely with us on the design, providing us with many ideas and options for tabletops, wood species, and leg styles. Based on an idea from their website gallery, we settled on black painted metal legs which they were able to fabricate with the help of a local tradesman.

We had a large order of 25 tables and Old Barn Star was able to meet our timelines! The quality and finish of the tables are impeccable; they are heavy, solid wood, and beautiful. And to top it off, their customer services was outstanding.”—Nipa Alon, Owner of Roomology Staging (www.roomologystaging.com)

unique cocktail tables

Interested in seeing more? Visit Le Malt’s image gallery. The new lounge is gorgeous!

 

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Amish-Made Furniture In-Stock

At Old Barn Star, we pride ourselves on our custom-made barnwood furniture. But, we’d like to remind you that we always keep a selection of Amish-made furniture in-stock.

The reason we keep some pieces of furniture in-stock is to allow for easy same-day ordering and pickup. The same Amish craftsmen who create all of our custom barnwood furniture orders also build our in-stock inventory. So, you will be happy to know that all the same patience and hard work go into each of these ready-to-order barnwood items.

The furniture we keep available in-stock is usually left unfinished, which still gives you the option of customizing your selection with any one of the barnwood paint colors and stains that we offer.

amish made furniture

We currently have a selection of barnwood tables with unique table and leg options available for same-day ordering and pickup.

Check out our in-stock barnwood furniture specials! If you see one that you like, please contact us or come by!

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Old Barn Star Sets up Shop on Etsy

The popular e-commerce site Etsy recently welcomed Old Barn Star to its rich network of suppliers. If you’ve never used Etsy, now’s a great time to check out our reclaimed barnwood furniture on it.

Amish Furniture

Etsy, a Brooklyn-based company, was launched in June of 2005 to provide a fresh perspective on e-commerce — a grassroots alternative to sites like Amazon and E-Bay. Founder Robert Kalin came up with name as his interpretation of the Latin word “etsi”, meaning if. He saw it as a nonsense word and an appropriate moniker for a brand built from scratch.

As more consumers realized the merit in the original products offered by Etsy compared to mass-produced corporate output, more people have used Etsy to buy things for themselves and as gifts for their loved ones.

With its homespun and handcrafted offerings, we thought Etsy would be the perfect place for our Amish furniture. On our page, you’ll find a tasteful mixture of the labor intensive, rustic furniture you’ve come to expect from us. As always, you also have the option of contracting us to make the furniture you want. Make an account today and get started!

What would you like to see on our Etsy page? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook or on Twitter!

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A Celebration of Amish Barn Raising Season

This season, as with every year, the Amish communities witness a return to one of their oldest traditions: barn raising.

reclaimed barn wood furniture and the amishThe act is a celebration of something core to the Amish personality. A barn is the hub for many kinds of Amish work; it’s the nexus for their products and processes, including woodworking. Without their beautiful barns and the elegant process by which they’re erected, we wouldn’t have the materials the Amish turn into beautiful reclaimed barnwood furniture. To commemorate barn raising, we’ll take this time to dive into its history and its current status.

History of Amish Barn Raising

Barn raising began as a viable practice in the earliest American settlements. In those days, for want of contractors and carpenters, societies were interdependent and came together to erect the barns the way they came together to do anything.

It’s an essential practice to the Amish identity because it celebrates community, hard work, and common goals. The Amish refer to practices that satisfy these conditions as “frolics”. Barn raising is the most prolific frolic. Because it is a frolic, or an event that combines socializing with a common goal, it has sustained long after the advent of more practical methods.

reclaimed barn wood furniture

Why Has Amish Barn Raising Season Been Delayed?

This year, we have yet to see barn raising season begin in our area, though historically this is the most popular time. The most likely culprit for barn raising’s delayed initiation is the inclement weather experienced by the Midwest and the Northeast over the last several months. In fact, the moisture in the air has caused us to extend the kiln-drying period for our Amish furniture.

As the clouds disperse and the temperatures lift enough to show the countryside mercy, we’re sure to see new barns crop up alongside the equally productive flowers of spring. As for us, we’ll continue to provide handcrafted Amish reclaimed barnwood furniture.

It’s a tradition as valuable to us as the barn raising that fuels it.

What are the barn raising traditions in your area? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook or on Twitter!

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See Old Barn Star Featured in Flea Market Style

We’re proud to announce that Old Barn Star is featured in the Spring/Summer 2014 issue of Flea Market Style. The home design magazine ran a feature called Born in a Barn, offering a nod to all of our products and showcasing one of our hutches. Thanks, Flea Market Style!

The barn aesthetic has enjoyed serious time in the home design spotlight in recent years, but it’s slightly more rare to find reclaimed barnwood furniture that’s actually handcrafted in the Amish tradition.

rustic barnwood hutch

A handcrafted piece of reclaimed barnwood furniture is truly one-of-a-kind, such as the barnwood hutch that’s pictured above. You’ll never see a duplicate because there’s something special and unique about the process of working with your hands. There’s a personality that a machine-built piece can never have. The best way to put your heart into your work is with your hands.

Again, let’s give Flea Market Style a big thank you for recognizing the importance of hard work and an artistic eye!

What would you like to see from Old Barn Star? Tell us about it on Facebook and Twitter, and keep checking the blog for more updates!