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WHY BUILD WITH BARNWOOD? Part 2

WHY BARNWOOD?

 

Hello there! In our last musing, we asked the question “why build with barnwood?” for our interior decorating choices. Today we’ll continue that discussion by delving deeper into this ever-increasingly popular design choice. While quality and uniqueness (read here) are sturdy “legs” on their own, we’re going to turn this loping bipedal Neanderthal into a trusty tripod by adding one more! Speaking of Neanderthals, today’s discussion will address the element of history within our furniture choices! Boring maybe… but we’ll try make this worth your continued attention! Now, don’t worry, I’m not about to launch into the history of furniture itself, that is a separate topic. What I do hope to illustrate is that by experiencing the “origin story” of reclaimed lumber furniture, a special element is brought to life!

 

THE SHINY OBJECT

 

What do I mean by all this? Well, consider this… Say you are given two choices for a dining room table. One is smooth to both the eye and the touch. Its’ rich, even tones and glossy appearance catch your eye and you are drawn like a moth to the flame… you can just picture this centered in your dining room, glistening in the sunlight. The edges are smooth, ornately profiled and uniform. Perfect symmetry is achieved all around… Pretty nice, don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for “flawless” even if that is not your go-to design preference.

THE UGLY STEPSISTER?

barnwood1

The other option is…well… a bit rougher around the edges. Speaking of edges, they aren’t even straight! There are what look like notches and nail holes, grooves and gouges… “What happened to this thing?” you ask yourself.

barnwood2

At first glance the “flaws” definitely seem to overwhelm your vision. However, upon closer inspection you begin to “see” and “feel” the past. Like looking into a time warp, you can imagine the large steel blade that valiantly fought its’ way through that old-growth lumber. The deep arcs and grooved lines bear testament to that. You can see evidence of insects that once sought refuge within. Or in later years, the tell-tale signs of birds attacking the wood fibers to find those insects for their next meal!

barnwood3

Furthermore, you imagine the rough, calloused hands that expertly crafted the structure for which the wood was destined. So, even though this is only an imaginary extrapolation, it is plain to see and feel that there was a colorful history that each piece endured!

WHICH TO CHOOSE…

 

Given these two choices, I know what my choice is, do you? Old-world, weathered charm gets my vote every time. However slight, experiencing the history of a furniture piece through sight and feel brings more vibrance and meaning to what is otherwise an  “object of commodity” in most instances. What do you feel? Do you say ‘Nah’ to nostalgia?

Posted on November 16, 2022This entry was posted in Barnwood, General. Bookmark the permalink.

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