Ode to Barn Wood

Dear barn wood,

You make me happy.

Your rough textures and chippy paint

make me feel a little sappy.

With you I love to create and build

And when I do I am fulfilled!

Ok, poet I am not.  Happy builder I am and when I have some lovely barn wood it sings to me, "Build, create, let me be useful again!"  So that is exactly what I did when I made this hall tree.

I started with three 6 foot boards that I joined together at the top and bottom with a 1x3" board.  I also added one at chair height which is about 17".

I joined together two boards to make the seat and the bottom shelf.

I used thick boards to join the bottom shelf together.  There were 2 3/4' thick, the same size as the bottom horizontal board that joined the three 6 foot boards together.  This way the bottom shelf had more support to rest on the ground.  

 I then added supports between the seat and the bottom shelf.

 Next, I secured the bottom shelf by screwing through the top into the bottom horizontal board.  

 I did the same with the bench seat.  When you are working by yourself, clamps are your friend!  I have several, including pipe clamps for big jobs.

I added some trim boards around the seat and bottom shelf.

 Some hooks and a mirror painted in cream for contrast finished this barn wood piece. 

 I made the mirror by gluing a square mirror from Michaels to a thin piece of plywood.  I trimmed it out in barn wood, secured with screws from behind.

 The hall tree is shown on my porch because it is headed to my booth for someone else to enjoy.

 

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