Across the country, old barns and structures are being dismantled and used for many beautiful projects. You probably have lots of old structures in your area, as we do in Holmes County. The barn pictured here is a treasured structure at Doughty Farm Meats on the way to Charm.
If your place has a rustic decor and you think you might like reclaimed wood furniture, there are a few things to consider.
1. Reclaimed wood may look different because it is coming from different structures.
If you are fortunate enough to get all the wood you need from one structure, it may look very similar. That doesn’t happen often. But the reason most people want reclaimed wood is for the character of the wood, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
2. There is a good chance there will be saw marks, nail holes or insect holes in the wood.
As long as the imperfections don’t compromise the structure of the wood, this is also part of the character. The wood can be planed down where you don’t see any marks, but it may lose the integral part of the look of reclaimed. The wood can also be “hit-skip” planed to clean it up a bit but also leave the great, old patina.
3. Your wood has a story to tell.
If it is at all possible, it’s good to get the background story of your wood. The origin of your wood is not always known, but sometimes the material supplier knows the story and would probably be happy to tell you. Just ask!
Unfortunately, old structures have to be taken down to use this great wood. But it’s environmentally friendly and has a great, comfortable look.
When you are thinking about new furniture–Think Old! : )
Reclaimed Wood Samples