If you’re like me, a visit into any architectural space {home or commercial} is something of a visual scavenger hunt for beautiful materials and interesting applications. When climbing a set of rough-hewn wood beam stairs, for example, I’m usually wondering where they came from and who installed them. Everywhere I go I notice tile details and door hardware, lighting and wall finishes, and all of these details leave me curious as to the story behind each product.

That is certainly the case every time I visit a new Anthropologie store with their eclectic mix of industrial rustic, reclaimed, vintage and modern finishes. Remember my post from awhile back about the new Oakville location? Well through the magic of the interwebs, the company that supplies their hardwood found my post and asked if they could use some of my photos to show off their product in context. I of course said yes, and then also asked if I could learn more about their process {you know me!}. Turns out, these floors have a great story. Here’s what I learned.

The reason the gorgeous hardwood floors you see in the Anthro stores have such character is that they are made from upcycled wood, reclaimed from old barns in the US. Appalachian Woods {the company behind this process} has developed something of a reputation in their area. They’ve created a place where tired barns can go – not to rest, but to write an entirely new storyline for their future. Appalachian Woods is regularly contacted about local barns that need to be removed. The owner, Jonas Hochstetler, evaluates the condition of the wood and estimates the overall value and time required for demolition, and then their team dives in.

The reclaimed oak and chestnut floors they produce are most frequently upcycled from 1″ and 2″ thick barn boards with the original, time-worn faces on both sides. Once the barnboard has been checked for nails and other hardware with a metal detector, it is kiln dried and straight line ripped to the finished dimensions of the soon-to-be hardwood floors. The Antique Heart Pine is actually purchased as large timbers {just picture huge hand-hewn beams from a barn} and then taken through a similar process.

The company specializes in three main species: Antique Wormy Chestnut, Antique Heart Pine and Antique Oak.

Isn’t the application of this Antique Wormy Chestnut {above} remarkable? It reminds me of a hand-braided rug.

I love the clear grain of the Antique Heart Pine above, very different from the pine we see being harvested today. The older pine has a tighter, more linear grain as it comes from much larger trees than the ones we harvest now.

This next photo definitely defines “wood cabin” to the extreme with upcycled, vintage wood on the floors, walls and cabinets. To be honest it’s too much of a good thing for me, but it definitely showcases the many different applications possible!

I don’t know about you, but I just love knowing that the gorgeous floors I’ve long admired at Anthropologie come from a dedicated, family-run business. Appalachian Woods‘ passion to give tired barns a new life is environmentally responsible and visually inspiring, creating warm and charming environments across North America with their beautiful story. So happy to be able to share their process and product with you today!

xo
s.