Tag: barnwood furniture

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Christmas in August? Why You Should Start Planning Now for Your Holiday Feast

During the holiday season, dining becomes the center of every celebration whether you’re with family or friends. And when we say dining, we mean feasting!

Many of our holiday traditions include gathering around the dining room table, so when it comes to transforming our everyday dining space into a feasting space, things can get a little complicated.

We know you’re probably having fun in the sun and want nothing to do with the holiday season, but we’re planning ahead this year to help create the picture perfect scene so when you’re ready to set up your holiday feast you can do it with ease and in style.

Barnwood Table

How to Pick a Barnwood Table for the Holidays

Your dining table will be the center of attention in a few months for your cookie swaps, Friendsgiving, family feasts and cocktail hours. Our barnwood tables are loved by Old Barn Star fans for creating a warm and cozy dining setting while still staying true to the classic and traditional styles we have always treasured.

To create your perfect, custom-made barnwood table in time for the holiday season, here are the top 3 factors to keep in mind:

1. Room size: First, measure the room where the barnwood table will go. You want to make sure the table will fit comfortably, without hitting any walls. In addition, choose a table width that allows everyone to pass plates around. You know everybody will be eager to eat all the delicious holiday trimmings, so you don’t want anything getting in the way.

2. Guest count: Next, take the guest count into consideration. On average how many people will be attending some of your holiday festivities? You want to make sure everyone has enough elbowroom when sitting down for a meal.

3. Table aesthetic: Lastly, you’ll need to decide on the shape of table that will work best for your home. A round table opens up conversation, whereas a rectangle table may seat more.

A custom-made barnwood table not what you’re looking for?

We always have a variety of tables already made and in stock. We suggest taking a look at our reclaimed barnwood tables listed on the “In-Stock Unfinished Furniture” and “In-Stock Finished Specials” pages of our website.

Contact us if you have any questions, we’d be glad to help!

 

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Creative Storage Ideas for Your Living Room

It’s safe to say, living rooms are on the comeback and technology is playing a huge part in this return. With smartphones and tablets on the rise, it’s easier to gather around the TV with your phone in hand instead of being chained to a desktop computer.

Many of us would say that the living room is where so many memories are made, so we love the fact that families are spending more time together in them! While the living room can be one of the most important rooms in you house, styling the space for family fun and entertainment all starts with a few key furniture pieces.

Furniture Ideas for the Living Room

Here are some of our most popular barnwood furniture pieces that our families add to their living room spaces. With a little bit of rustic flare and extra storage space, your family room will be the most popular gathering spot in the house!

Barnwood Bookcase.

Do you need a safe place to store confidential files or maybe you want to organize your child’s favorite books; whatever the reason is, a barnwood bookcase is the perfect solution to help organize your space. This bookcase is especially unique because you have both visible and hidden shelving. Now each family member can have a piece of his or her personality displayed in the living room, while leaving the private items hidden.

Bookcase

Reclaimed Barnwood Buffet Table.

A barnwood buffet table, sometimes referred to as a sideboard for its unique design, adds extra storage and workspace to the room. Display family photos on top, but then transform the piece into an hors d’oeuvres station when you’re entertaining since the table height is at a much more comfortable level for serving food than your coffee table. Your buffet table can also hold any china or valuable serving pieces that are only brought out during holidays and other special occasions.

Barnwood Furniture

Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table.

A coffee table is a piece of furniture that historically, and in modern times, has many uses. In fact, if you take a moment to think about how often you actually use a coffee table you might be surprised as too how often. It’s the perfect location to rest your food, drinks, and much more while gathering around an entertainment system. They’re unique shape is set low so they don’t’ block the TV, as well as, providing that casual conversation vibe. Depending on your family room style, you may find that a rustic, reclaimed wood coffee table will make for the perfect statement piece.Wood Coffee Table

Barnwood Desk.

A barnwood desk could be the perfect addition to your living room to help serve as a central location for your charging devices, bills, and homework. By having a desk for extra storage space, you can easily organize the important documents and other materials away from your entertaining spaces.

Barnwood Desk

If you’re looking for a timeless piece that your friends and family will love, contact us with your vision and we’ll work with you to create a custom-made piece of barnwood furniture.

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Made in America: Celebrating Amish Craftsmanship

“Good character, like good soup, is usually homemade.” –Amish Proverb

Our Amish handcrafted furniture is not just a stylistic effort; it’s the product of hundreds of years of history. A staple of American folk art, the Amish woodworkers are known for their quality, being 100 percent wood, as well as the distinct traditional style that transcends generations.

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Where the American Amish Roots Came From?

The original Amish community dates back to the sixteenth century as an Anabaptist movement. During this movement three spiritual communities were formed; the Amish, Mennonites, and Brethen. While each community is unique with their own traditions, the Amish have their roots in the Mennonite community. The American Amish community flourished in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and to this day they have devoted their lives to the Amish traditions, to help carry out an expression of their ideals and simplicity as a society.

Amish-made furniture first gained popularity in the 1920s, when early American folk art was first discovered. Lots of vendors and historians, around the world, valued this type of work for its beauty and quality, especially since Amish reclaimed wood furniture is all about detail. After all, Amish woodworking is a reflection of the importance the community puts on the concepts of hard work, craftsmanship and durability. In addition, since the Amish community avoids electricity and modern conveniences, their tools are hydraulically and pneumatically powered. This mean all the finishing work is done by hand, making every American-made piece truly unique.

Barnwood Furniture

Benefits of Amish-made Barnwood Furniture

Amish furniture truly has heart. Traditional woodworking skills are passed by practice through generations and generations.

Not only is barnwood furniture made with so much history there are several other reasons why our Old Barn Star fans choose Amish-made furniture made in America:

  • Custom-made: Since barnwood furniture is handmade you can specialize each piece. The design and craftsmanship will speak for itself. No two pieces will ever be identical due to the nature of our work and the material.
  • Environmentally 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.

What questions do you have about our Amish furniture? You can ask us on Facebook and Twitter, and keep checking our blog for updates from our team!

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Tips on Buying Custom Barnwood Furniture from Old Barn Star

Here at Old Barn Star, we specialize in creating one-of-a-kind Amish-made reclaimed barnwood furniture including tables, chairs, benches, desks, buffets, hutches, islands and more! We truly love what we do and the best part of our job is working with all of our amazing customers.

Barnwood Furniture

We wanted to answer some of our customers’ frequently asked questions about ordering custom furniture and how to take care of it once you make it a part of your home. Here are some of our most asked questions:

How do I place a reclaimed wood furniture order?

Since we may be in the shop, delivering a final barnwood piece to a customer, email is really the best way to contact us. You can reach out to us at info@oldbarnstar.com.

Once we work with you on what you’re looking for, we’ll offer a breakdown of options along with pricing.

What is the turnaround time when I place an order?

Turnaround time can vary from item to item because some reclaimed barnwood pieces are made more frequently than others, but generally our turnaround will range from 2-10 weeks. We do build all of our barnwood pieces by hand so we’ll let you know if your order needs any extra time.

Do you require a deposit and what payments do you accept?

We may require a 25% non-refundable deposit at the time of order, at our discretion, in the form of Cash or Check. All items must be paid in full before they will be released to the customer. If you are using a shipper, furniture pieces must be paid in full to Old Barn Star before we will release them to the shipping company. The reclaimed furniture is precious and time-consuming; we just want to make sure it finds the right home safely!

Is my order a final sale?

Since all of our items are custom and hand-built, all orders are final sale. We will work with you if you’re having an issue, but your order is made just for you and to your specifications. If you need to make changes to your order, please contact us immediately.

How do I care for my new furniture?

Barnwood furniture care is very simple. Most of the furniture is sealed with a water-resistant topcoat. For tabletops, please use a damp cloth to clean, not a heavy saturated cloth as it could leave water on the table and cause issues. Silicone-based products and any cleaning product with an ammonia base are not recommended. You want to avoid direct sunlight and high heat areas of the home; these conditions can cause issues with warping and cracking in your furniture.

Does Old Barn Star ship the furniture?

We do offer a delivery service for a fee, normally within 75 miles of our shop in Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania. If you live a distance outside that radius, we happily work with a few different shippers and can offer you a quote for your zip code area. We offer curbside delivery, which means the items will be delivered to your location but you will need assistance to bring them in to the home. This way you are protected from any damage that may occur when furniture is being brought into your home. Any damage that occurs during shipping should be handled with the shipper directly.

If you have a question for our Old Barn Star team, don’t hesitate to contact us!

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How to Clean and Sanitize Your Reclaimed Barnwood Furniture

Custom, reclaimed barnwood furniture is truly a work of art.

At our shop, each piece is handcrafted from harvested wood and constructed with care to keep the natural look and feel of the wood alive in the finished product.

Our customers often ask how to preserve that look throughout the years, especially since our classic furniture is usually passed down through the generations. To ensure that all of the barnwood furniture at Old Barn Star remains in good condition, most of our furniture is sealed with a water-resistant topcoat. However, wood comes from a natural living organism, and proper, ongoing care is recommended to help preserve the look and feel of the furniture.

Reclaimed Barnwood Furniture

3 Step-Process to Sanitize Reclaimed Wood

Here is our three-step process on properly cleaning your furniture.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

First, it’s time to gather all the supplies needed to sanitize properly, including a damp sponge and mild cleaning product. Here are some things to avoid when determining your supplies:

Avoid:

  • Silicone-based cleaning or polishing products
  • Harsh chemicals such as ammonia, bleach
  • Abrasive powders, pads, or steel wools
  • Sponges or dishcloths that have been used to clean food or may contain oils

Step 2: Let the Cleaning Begin

Now it’s time to start sanitizing your barnwood. Use a little bit of your cleaning product on a damp cloth and begin wiping down the entire surface of the furniture. Be sure that your cloth is just damp and not fully saturated with the cleaning solution.

Step 3: Drying the Wood

Once you’re done, follow with a clean, soft cloth to dry the furniture. Be sure that your barnwood furniture piece is not in direct sunlight to avoid any damage such as warping.

Every piece of Old Barn Star reclaimed barnwood furniture has its own unique story. When proper care techniques are followed, the story of each product will be sure to remain intact and live through generations. Have a question? Contact us about cleaning and sanitizing your reclaimed barnwood furniture.

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Take a Peek Behind the Scenes at Old Barn Star

We can’t believe it is already almost July!

Between custom furniture orders and local events, this season has been a whirlwind for us and we are ever so grateful. We often use our blog to show you some of our customers’ favorite projects or some unique ways to use barnwood in your home. This time, we wanted to pull back the curtain on ourselves and share some behind the scenes photos with you all the way from Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania!

Whether you already know and love Old Barn Star, or you’re just starting to get familiar with all of our barnwood furniture; here’s a look inside why we love to do what we do.

Meet Bella and Sookie. First and foremost, we have to introduce Bella and Sookie, the unofficial mascots of Old Barn Star. Bella has a black brown coat, whereas, Sookie is more of a Reddish brown. Usually Sookie finds the trouble and Bella gets caught in the act because she is so slow and laid back. This sister hound team is always there to put a smile on our faces, as we’re busy filling furniture orders. We like to think of Bella and Sookie as the ideal helpers whether we’re painting or delivering shipments and they often makes guest appearances on our Instagram page.Old Barn Star Dogs

To stain or paint? That is the question. A lot of hard work goes into each piece of barnwood furniture. We believe in doing everything by hand because it makes for a better quality product. Back at the Old Barn Star shop you’ll see us hand painting and staining every piece of furniture that we sell. We have samples of our paints and stains all over the shop to keep us inspired!Paint

Stain

On the Road. The one part of the process most customers may not see is when we’re packing up custom orders to hit the road! Here are some photos of how our barnwood furniture leaves the shop and heads to its new home. We like to say that we must have been very good with building blocks when we were kids!

This past Spring we were also lucky to meet so many of you at the Vintage Tin Can in Maryland. It’s fun for us to see our pieces get dressed up to be put on display at this incredible store and we are lucky to show alongside some very talented vendors!Barnwood Shipments

Accessorize, accessorize! Every now and then we are always looking for ways to add personality to our barnwood furniture pieces, from unexpected paint colors to the perfect hardware accessories. We have fallen in love with handmade hardware, especially these artistic hand-forged knobs below that were done by a local blacksmith. Our local community has such a huge part in who we are as a shop and we love showing that off in each of our pieces.Barnwood Furniture

We hope you learned a bit more about our Old Barn Star team and what makes us unique! If you are interested in learning more about our barnwood products or furniture process, please contact us for more information – we can’t wait to hear from you!