Tag: barnwood furniture

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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!

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Repurposed with Style in Honor of Earth Day

Each year on April 22, we recognize Earth Day, dedicated to Mother Nature, with eco-friendly community activism all over the world.

Today we’re celebrating Earth Day by paying homage to barnwood furniture, as it comes straight from the source and is a perfect example of practicing conservation in your home décor.

Naturally, it’s always better to recycle, or in this case up-cycle. We’re conserving and preventing the unnecessary falling of trees by using beautiful reclaimed wood in all of our barnwood furniture.Earth Day Tables

Why You Should Choose Barnwood Furniture to Help Make a Difference

 

In addition, to conservation, reclaimed barnwood furniture has a few other benefits that are extremely important to consider when investing in a piece of furniture.

Conservation

  • By sourcing local wood and breathing new life into it, less wood is needed to be cut down from farmed forests. This results in a huge environmental advantage.

Durability

  • Old wood tends to have a together grain structure and creates a much more stable and long-lasting furniture piece to be passed down to future generations to love.

Custom-Made

  • Each piece of barnwood furniture can be custom-made to fit your personality and family’s needs. Plus, each piece is already coming with a special story and history behind it!Repurposed Barnwood Furniture

At Old Barn Star we have plenty of in-stock barnwood furniture for you to explore or maybe you have an idea of your own. Contact us to talk about your wants and needs regarding a new piece of furniture!

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Choosing the Perfect Piece of Barnwood Furniture

A piece of reclaimed furniture is a timeless tradition that never looks or feels dated due to the beauty and durability of the wood.

With so many different options you can find a one-of-a-kind piece for every space and know that they will always be pieces you’ll be able to pass down from generation to generation.reclaimed wood furniture sale

What to Consider When Selecting a Piece of Barnwood Furniture

 

1. Furniture Needs

First things first, you need to decide what type of furniture you would like for your home. Take a look at your most used spaces in your home such as the kitchen or the living room. Could you use another seat or another table? Outline each space’s needs and then prioritize them based on your budget. This keeps you focused in your shopping.

2. Type of Wood

Barnwood will typically fall under one of two categories: hardwood or softwood. Here are four types of woods that are commonly used when building furniture.

Hardwood

  • Oak – used for modern furniture with a grayish-white or deep red color
  • Maple – used for all types of furniture with a light brownish color

Softwood

  • Cedar – used primarily for chests and closets with a deep red color
  • Pine – used for all types of furniture with a creamy, yellow-brown color

3. Room Décor

What room are you putting your barnwood furniture in? Is the room modern or rustic – formal or informal? A piece of oak furniture will be great for a modern feel, whereas, a piece of pine might give off a more rustic vibe. Custom barnwood furniture will allow you to better incorporate your current décor themes into your new piece!

A handcrafted piece of reclaimed barnwood furniture is one-of-a-kind, statement piece for any home. You’ll never see a duplicate because there’s something special and unique about the process of working with your hands; you’ll definitely be able to see that difference.

What is your favorite kind of barnwood and why? Let us know in the comments below!

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Redecorating Your Home With a Touch of Spring

The birds are chirping. The daffodils are blooming. Spring is here, and if you’re anything like the rest of us, we’re glad to see winter fade away!

With every new season comes inspiration for home projects. Maybe it’s the change in the air because this time of year our barnwood experts always looking for ways to decorate our with brighter colors, fresh styles and bold pieces!

3 Ways to Bring Spring into Your Home

1. The Friendliest Color Around: Duck Egg Blue

Defined as both sophisticated and rustic, duck egg blue has become a hot color trend in homes across the country so there’s no surprise that Houzz dubbed it as “the friendliest color around.” One thing is for sure – duck egg blue is a refreshing color for any décor style and it’s not going anywhere any time soon. A pop of paint in unexpected places, such as barnwood furniture legs or inside a bookcase, can change the look of your room while bringing in that refreshed, spring look.Barnwood Stool

2. Smells Like Spring

What types of scents are your favorites this time of year? We love the mix of blooming flowers and herbs with the crisp, spring air. One of our favorite springtime scents happens is lavender not only for its scent but therapeutic properties that bring calm and relaxation to the space. We always add a satchel of lavender to our reclaimed barnwood bathroom vanity. You can place a bundle in a drawer for a toned down scent.Smells Like Spring

3. Green is The New Black

This is the time of year where everything is in bloom. With so many vibrant greens coming to life outside your door, why not add the same look inside your home? Green ivy and ferns make a great addition to any shelf or bookcase. Plus, a design trend in 2015 is adding more color and texture, so what better way to do that than with Mother Nature!Barnwood Hutch

We truly love the look of greenery against our barnwood furniture pieces.

How do you plan on decorating this spring? Tell us about it on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact us with any ideas for spring inspired barnwood furniture!

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Achieving Form and Function: Barnwood Furniture in a Restaurant Setting

Our reclaimed barnwood products are the perfect way to set any restaurant or bar apart from the competition; covered in character, eco-friendly and functional.

The successful restaurant of today has quite the competition in both food quality and overall ambiance. Chefs focus on the details in their culinary creations, so it only seems natural to follow the same guidelines when it comes to the setting that these creations are to be presented in!

We love it when we hear from restaurant owners looking for barnwood restaurant tables and chairs to add that extra special detail to their dining space that truly represents what they’re about.Wood Table And Chairs

How to Choose Restaurant Furniture

Purchasing new tables and chairs for your restaurant can be a challenging task. As a restaurant owner, there are a few factors you’ll want to consider before you make a final decision.

1. Comfort
Comfort is one of the top priorities so customers feel at home. It’s important to make sure that the tables and chairs are providing maximum comfort to all customers from large families to couples on date night! Investing in quality furniture that doesn’t lead to uncomfortable diners sitting at wobbly tables could be worth the extra dollars.

2. Space
Space is always a frustrating dance for restaurant owners. You want to ensure you have enough space for the customers and for your wait staff to move around, however you also want to utilize your space in an efficient manner. Plan carefully and evaluate your customers’ and wait staff’s needs.

3. Decorative Charm
While comfort and mobility are very important aspects of your restaurant furniture, you also want to make sure the furniture matches the theme of your place. As the owner, you’ll need to stick to the mood that you want to bring to the space, such as formal or casual.

For example, a barnwood table with reclaimed barnwood benches will be great for family style dining while a formal restaurant would look great with traditional wood chairs.Centerpiece

The Advantages to Barnwood Restaurant Furniture

Durability

  • Barnwood ages beautifully and is one of the toughest materials for furniture.

Personality

  • A one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that your guests will remember.

Custom-made

  • Each piece of barnwood furniture can be made to your specifications to complement your restaurant’s décor theme.

Contact us to talk about your wants and needs regarding a new piece of barnwood restaurant furniture!

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How to Build a Mix & Match Dining Set with Barnwood Chairs & Benches

If you’re thinking about tossing your dining table to the curb, think again.

Our dining room chairs endure a lot of wear and tear and once we see them looking drab we think the entire set needs to go. In reality, you can keep your table and spruce up the entire set with new chairs, saving you money along the way.

From a design perspective, mismatched chairs are growing in popularity for country, rustic, and beach house decor. Bringing in new seating to your dining table to achieve that “mismatched” effect will bring new energy to your space.

Where to begin on your new seating? When considering the best seating option for any table, it’s important to be aware of the space you’re working with.

What Seating Option is Right for You?

They’re a few things you’ll want to consider when deciding on the perfect seating option.

  1. Height: You’ll need to be aware of the height of your table. If the chair ends up being too high or low, you’ll have a bit of a problem on your hands. We suggest getting exact measurements to make sure your guests are comfortable and can easily pull their chair in and out from the table.
  2. Length: Determine the width of your table so you know how many chairs you will actually need. Some tables can comfortably fit three chairs to a side, while smaller tables might only accommodate two. You can maximize space with a bench.
  3. Style: Is there a certain style you’re trying to achieve – modern, rustic, retro, or traditional? What other design elements in the space do you want to work with? Bringing in some sample materials can help shape the big picture for you, same as you would when trying out paint samples.

Types of Barnwood Seating Options

 

Barnwood Chair

If you’re new to the barnwood world, keep it simple with a reclaimed barnwood chair, the more traditional route. We like to think that the chair approach is extremely versatile, stylish and practical. You can choose from various woods and then personalize with barnwood stain or paint colors; the possibilities are endless.

Looking for a stronger eclectic look, try incorporating different types of barnwood chairs around the table. If you want to stay on the conservative side, pick the same style of chair but mismatch the colors. Feeling bold? Try out different styles and colors!Barnwood Chairs

Reclaimed Barnwood Bench

The bench alternative is a fun and casual addition to your dining space. It adds more seating, or can be utilized for tables that have a leaf. Many homeowners opt for a barnwood bench on one side of the table, with chairs on the other. You can mix and match your chairs and benches as well!Barnwood Bench

As with most decorating rules, there are exceptions. When mixing a table, chairs, or bench the rule is: when the pairing works, go for it! If you’re interested in learning more about all the barnwood seating options we offer, contact us and we would be more than happy to discuss.

What seating option is ideal for your kitchen table?