06/10/2026
🌾 What Makes Me Different
Every time I sit down to build something, I’m reminded why I do this — and what sets my work apart. I use authentic reclaimed materials. Not “farmhouse‑style,” not faux anything… the real deal. I’m talking 100‑year‑old barnwood, rusty barn roof tin, driftwood, and boards that have lived entire lifetimes before they ever reach my shop.
I keep the standout pieces from every batch — the ones with the deepest weathered grain, the wildest patina, the stories etched right into them. There are so many kinds of barnwood, each with its own character. My favorite is that heavy‑weathered, deeply eroded grain you only get from decades of wind, rain, and sun on old barn siding.
Some boards still carry sawmill marks — those rounded scratches left by the giant old blades whose teeth were bent opposite directions to keep them from binding. Those marks are signatures of another era, especially on boards pulled from the inside of a barn.
Then you’ve got the chippy paint boards. That look can’t be faked. True chippy paint only happens after years of shrinking, swelling, and weather working against the wood. It’s history you can hold.
And of course, there are the little details that make barnwood what it is: rusty nails still in place, nail holes with rust halos, hinge marks, even hinges still attached. These aren’t flaws — they’re fingerprints.
Some of my recent builds, like the 22" barnwood cows, were a mix of all these worlds. Some boards still had original chippy paint, others had that deep weathered grain. And my candy corn sets over the years? They’ve had everything — heavy grain on the front, sawmill marks on the back, a little chippy paint, and if I could safely leave it, a rusty nail right in the décor.
Barnwood species vary too. Old barns were built with whatever was available — poplar, ash, pine, oak. I can usually tell by weight, but the real giveaway is when I cut into it and see the internal color.
Even the thickness tells a story. Most barnwood falls between ¾" and 1", sometimes up to 2" thick. You won’t find me building anything out of thin, flimsy lumber. These boards were made to last.
I guess what I’m saying is… I’ve spent enough years with this material that I’m becoming a bit of a barnwood professional. And it’s these reclaimed materials... these real, lived‑in, weather‑worn boards, that set my work apart from other wood décor makers. Sure, you can buy faux barnwood. But why would you, when you can have the real thing?
And there’s one more thing that sets me apart... my faith. I believe there’s a deep connection between rural life, farm living, hard work, church, and family. Those things built America, and they’re worth holding onto. My work is my way of capturing those cozy countryside moments and nostalgic memories and passing them on.
Thanks for being here and cheering me on. My heart is to make pieces that cheer for you.
God bless, 🤎 Chris
Below: examples of different barnwood patina I've used over the years
