Planks For the Memories

Reclaimed barn wood has been a hot commodityfor years and the trend just keeps on rolling. It’s hard to believe there areany old barns left in the country!

Recently werescued some old barn wood for a client’s 1927 carriage house, which weconverted into a rustic garden room. We used barn wood for the shutters andinside trim, and for the overhang outside the kitchen door. It’s the perfectpairing for the vintage bricks inside the carriage house and the historicwarmth of the 88-year-old residence.

Photos Courtesy of Sweet Peas Design

Barn woodworks for a rough-luxe look too. I’m crazy about the barn wood ceiling at thenew 7 Lions restaurant on Michigan Avenue, across from the Art Institute. OwnerAlpana Singh, Chicago's famed master sommelier, acquired an entire barn inIndiana and had it installed throughout the space!

Photos Courtesy of Seven Lions Chicago

The vintageboards juxtaposes well with the gold-guilded, crystal chandeliers and theoversized photographic collage of Chicago images by artist Gail Mancuso. (Youcan see her work in my friend Arica Hilton's gallery, Hilton-Asmus ContemporaryGallery, 716 N. Wells St., or take a virtual tour at http://www.aricahilton.com/ and a direct link at http://www.hilton-asmus.com/gail-mancuso.html)

AlthoughI’m sad to see these historic barns being replaced by modern steel versions,it’s comforting to know that the beautifully aged planks are making memoriesfor a new generation instead of deteriorating outside or being relegated to thejunk yard.