Sep 29

Sep 29 From Farm To Table

A look at our most recent take on a modern harvest table, using wood salvaged from a 150+ year old farmhouse and locally welded steel legs from Burke's Custom Metal Works:

All set up in this beautiful space overlooking the water.

Where Birdmouse tables come from lately.

After we pull the boards from the walls and floors of the farmhouse (pictured above), Lenny planes them to the same width, but leaves the original finish on one side. Each board is then sanded down while maintaining some of the colour and weathered look of the wood. I like to give it a spray with bleach and let it dry out for a few days in the studio before finishing. Fortunately the wood is quite protected and dry from this particular source, but it still feels better to bleach out any germies. After it is thoroughly dried, it is sealed on both sides with a water based polyurethane. We offer other finish options, but this one is low maintenance and durable. We will also use it, or epoxy, if there is any lead in that paint that is left on, it will keep it encapsulated and safe to use. The finish has a low sheen so that it looks rugged, but some light is reflected so that it still feels clean.

Drying out after a good sanding and scrubbing.

These boards are only grooved (as opposed to tongue and groove). The "tongues" were separate strips of wood inserted into each side-by-side grooved board. Lenny made new tongues to join the boards together as a tabletop.

Looking right at home in its cottage. Our clients found these beautiful chairs on Kijiji to compliment it. We love how the matte black legs modernize the farmy top and carry over from the window muntins and the chairs add a touch of elegance. The table end caps are secured with gorgeous old screws salvaged from a late 1800s pump organ.