Hello my wonderful friends! Today is our bi-monthly Lifestyle of Love Hop. If you aren’t familiar with this one, we all love old things with a story. We choose a subject and share how we use it in our lives. This month it’s reclaimed wood. After looking around the house I’m not sure what I was thinking when I made that decision. I have only 3 Sentimental Reclaimed Wood Pieces for the Lifestyle of Love Hop today.
3 Sentimental Reclaimed Wood Pieces for the Lifestyle of Love Hop
If you’ve come over from Dabbling and Decorating, thank you and welcome! She also has 2 houses to keep up with and I feel she understands my struggles. Didn’t you enjoy seeing her pallet coffee table? I thought it was superb! I always love her photos and what she shares.
Reclaimed wood or repurposed wood is salvaged from barns and old houses to create other things. Think trusses, posts, siding, etc. You can reclaim any type of wood but the most common species are Douglas Fir, Redwood, Pine and Oak. People turn the recovered wood pieces into other buildings, floors, paneling, siding, furniture – lots of things!
Reclaimed Wood Piece #1
When the Mister’s great grandmother and then grandmother lived here at the farmhouse, there used to be a building out back called “the smoke house”. I was told family and friends from miles around would bring their meats on smoking day. I’m sure they had a great time but honestly, just the amount of work it took to live back then makes this person crave a burger drive-thru even if smoked ribs taste a heck of a lot better to me.
The building lasted roughly 50 years. When it got to be old and unsafe to use, they tore it down. Someone (maybe Uncle Sunny Man or Uncle Bill) in the family reclaimed the wood and made a fabulous ice chest/cooler as a memento. How fun is that? They thought of everything. The inside has a drainage plug and a chain to hold the lid open.
Reclaimed wood piece #2
Stone mantel in Dallas home
I don’t have a favorite reclaimed wood piece but this mantel the Mister made for me a couple of years ago was one fantastic day. Maybe because I’d been asking for a new one for 10 long years. It’s not all his fault. He said buy one but I couldn’t find anything online that would work over the existing mantel or worth the money. They’re expensive.
Original stone mantel
The previous mantel wasn’t ugly, just difficult to deal with. It was made of stone, was uneven, short in depth and if I was able to find something to fit on it, I had to prop it up with folded pieces of paper then cover the paper with things like beads. See the dilemma? Not fun to decorate.
When the new fence around the yard was built we had scrap pieces left over and I instantly knew they’d be perfect. This new repurposed mantel matches the wood floor and is nice and deep. I asked for 10 inches and be obliged. It makes such a huge difference and is perfect for decorating now! If you’d like to see the Mantel Surround DIY, click here.
Reclaimed Wood Pieces #3
Navasota farmhouse – front view from driveway
This photo might be a bit confusing but this old farmhouse was also made from reclaimed wood. I mentioned in the last post that the Mister’s great grandmother lived here first and the house was a promised wedding gift. How romantic is that?! What I didn’t mention was that it was built from pieces from another house on the property and full trees. If you look under the house you can see a tree log running the length of the house.
Reclaimed windows and door in dining room
You can also see the tree inside where the floor is humped because the house is almost 100 years old and needs to be leveled. I joke, although it’s not really a joke, that if I fall down in the dining room, I’m rolling all the way into the kitchen before I stop. Not kidding. I may have been seen running after something I dropped that I couldn’t catch while yelling stop stop! :/ Anyway, everything was reclaimed, including all doors, windows and casings. So fun!
After losing the two 300 years old trees last year in the front yard, we haven’t done much else to the outside of the house. We did remove the black painted screens on the windows. That let in some much needed light. We plan to move the house to another part of the property one day. It will serve as a guest house with a level foundation and I think we’ll remove the sheetrock in some rooms so the shiplap shows. Until then, we continue to cosmetically improve and maintain the home. Oh, and mow down the front beds every chance we get. What a nightmare!
Well that’s my 3 sentimental reclaimed wood pieces for the Lifestyle of Love hop! Now it’s time to see what my friends have in store for you. Next up is Lora Bloomquist and I feel some fabulous reclaimed beauty comin’ on. 😉
Cindy your farmhouse is so wonderful. I love hearing the family history of how it was salvaged from other houses. I know the importance of a deep mantel. The one we have was about 5 inches deep and concrete. yuk. That was one of the first makeovers that had to be done here when we started working on the house. The old ice chest is such a great piece, especially displayed on the porch. I bet it gets used for family and friend gatherings throughout the warm months. Thanks so much for putting this gathering together, I always love that they make me stretch my blogging imagination. Happy Saturday!
Author
I’m so glad you enjoy the LOL hops and they stretch your imagination. I was a little stumped on this one until I asked the Mister about the ice chest. He has some great stories about this house and the weekends spent here every month of his life. I think the parties and Easter egg hunts are my favorite. He never did win. LOL!
I love the that reclaimed wood is used for new pieces. I have some pieces made from the wood of the house my mother was raised in. A big rock from the foundation and a window I turned into a mirror. This was a great idea, thanks for sharing.
Author
Aww, I bet those pieces from your moms house give you such fond memories. I’d love that. I don’t think my kids will want anything that I have. But I bet they’ll make plenty of money from it when I am with Jesus. At least others know what’s awesome. 😉 Thanks for the visit Marlene! Hope you can get out and enjoy the beautiful weather?!
Love your stories, and I can just see you running and yelling! Too funny. Love that ice chest! What a great heirloom! And using your farmhouse as a reclaimed piece was genius! And your mantel, definite improvement!
Author
Whaaat?! I’m a genius?! Thanks! 😉
Wow Cindy I love this post. Your story makes me feel like I was there visiting the mantel is just gorgeous and that farmhouse. What treasures🙌🏻🫶🏻
Author
They really are treasures and I’m grateful that I was chosen to take care of them. Thank you Ann.
I love reading your posts. They are so entertaining. Hugs and blessings to you.
Author
That makes me smile. Thank you Renae!
What pretty heirloom pieces you have, Cindy!! How special to be the caretaker of those now. They are all so beautiful, each in their own way!
Author
I am grateful to be the caretaker of each one. Hope I can do them justice. Thanks Rachel.
Loved hearing the story of your nostalgic farmhouse and that it’s whole self is reclaimed:) Think there’s a spiritual meaning in there somewhere. Your deep mantel is awesome; perfect for fun styling all year round! And that cooler; it’s perfect for the farmhouse. Yes, I started doubting this theme, too, but love what everyone came up with!
Author
I agree – it was a doozy of a challenge but everyone did a great job! Thanks so much Lora. I always appreciate your comments and enthusiasm. 🙂
Wonderful post Cindy! I always love hearing about your farm house and look forward to seeing the shiplap walls someday!
Author
Me too! Not sure when that will happen but fingers crossed, it’s sooner than later! Thanks Michelle
It was so much fun to take a look at all your reclaimed pieces, Cindy! You know I adore your farmhouse and I love your reclaimed mantel too. Using the smokehouse wood for a cooler is such a great idea. I also come from a family that “puts up” and smokes meat every fall so it was fun to hear how your family did the same. Big hugs, CoCo
Author
Thank you CoCo. I wish I had been around to see the “smoke” day. Way before my time but it did sound like fun. Hope you’re having a great week!