Shut the Barn Door! {if only you had a barn door to shut}{26}
They are out there. I know they are. They’ve been out there for some time now.
I’m not even sure how many there are any more. I think there might be more now than the last time I checked on them. They might be multiplying. . .
I first noticed them right after I got back from the Lucketts Spring Market. I had overheard Miss Mustard Seed telling a disapointed shopper that the painted barn door she was eyeing had been sold – but that she comes across them (old barn doors) pretty often around where she lives. . .
I started thinking to myself: I wonder if I could find one of those barn door type of doors around where I live. Unbeknownst (yep, I spelled that right on the first try) to me, there was a whole stack of them in MY OWN BARN!! Yesterday, I went in and started pulling them out of the stack – one at a time. Say it with me now, “Mmmmm . . . Patina!”
You may be asking yourself how on Earth I could have had these things in my barn and not known about them. And that would be a really reasonable question for you to ask. Truthfully, I did know about ONE of them. And it’s probably the best one. This used to be the hayloft door to the barn.
this is the inside of the same door - the loft door must have been latched in the open position pretty often to get this kind of age on it...
You can see that these two doors were built by the same person and in the same era. They come from different parts of the same barn. I love how the loft door shows that it’s been exposed to the weather.
When Mr. Social Media moved his start up software company off of our kitchen counter – he made over the upstairs of the barn and he moved in. (he has since moved on 3 more times) He also swapped the hay loft door for a window. You know, so he could see. But the rest of them? I’m not really sure. I know one was a closet door in our house (from closet we no longer have). And I think the rest. . .well, I could make up a story. . . Or I could just maybe bring one of them into the house and use it the way it’s supposed to be used.
As a fantastic piece of decor!! Which one do you think I should bring inside?? Each door is between 5 and 6 feet tall.
wow. i honestly had no idea there were SIX of them. . . and yes, i hauled all six of them outside to take a pretty picture. and i put them all back, too.
Do you have treasures hiding in your barn or garage or shed? Go on out there and take a look! Maybe you will be surprised, too! By the way, in case you were wondering, the purple door (with the corner cut off corner) is the one from the house. The brown, yellow, white, and blue. . . well, you could make up a story. . .
I talked it over with Mr. Social Media this evening and he’s okay with me cutting any of the doors EXCEPT the hay loft door. And I agree, I’d never cut that door. I do have a plan for it but the plan does not include altering it in any way. (well, I might wash it) What would you do with these doors if they were yours? C’mon!! What are your ideas?!
breida
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Sep 28, 2012 @ 06:21:44
Headboard. Basis for a awesome coat rack (many hooks and a shelf or cubbies). I will keep thinking!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 11:44:24
i may have told you before that i want to use the hay loft door as a “headboard” – i want to hang it on the wall above the bed – from those awesome iron hooks – i had to promise Mark that I won’t alter it in any way – because he wants to put it back on the barn (eventually).
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:27:07
I don’t recall you telling me that, but I have two friends who are on a quest to find a great door to use as a headboard, so I had that on my mind I guess. By hanging it from “those awesome iron hooks” do you mean the hinges that are on it? That would be stunning! You’ve got a whole lot of possibilities there, dear.
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:54:36
yes – that’s exactly what i mean. if you look closely (not sure if you can look closely enough) at the hinges on the current barn door (in the picture – the doors below the old hayloft/window) the hinges are identical. I love them. they are just a vertical post attached to the barn and the “hooks” are attached to the door – and they just sit on top. i know that’s not clear – but i ‘ll show you sometime!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:58:26
I think I know exactly what you mean, and yes! they’re hard to explain. It sounds precisely like all the hinges on the windows and doors inside my house. Makes it amazingly easy to remove and re-install them. Looking forward to seeing the door installed in your room.
Sep 28, 2012 @ 11:24:37
My friend made a super cool coffee table from and old wooden door. She even left the knob on and everything.
Sep 28, 2012 @ 11:45:32
i am not in need of a coffee table. . . but that’s a great idea!
thinking of you
{{{}}}}
breida
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:39:43
I hope for sure you are able to use the yellow and blue doors. I have seen them take the place of basement, closet and pantry doors. I’m hoping to soon get a barn door and put it on a track for my bedroom closet/bathroom door. You will make the right decision.
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:56:42
lucky me, i just get to hang on to them until inspiration strikes! all of these doors would be undersized for a traditional door frame though. really, that’s part of what i like about them is that they are a bit diminutive. . .
thanks for stopping by again!
breida
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:41:00
Ohemgee. I am soooo jealous of your stash. I hunt high and low for barn doors. I was at a barn sale the other day and offered to buy the door. They declined. I guess they needed it or something but it wasn’t attached. I love them all especially the turquoise one. I would probably paint a vintage inspired sign on one. Yes, use the other as a headboard. Maybe one as a shutter next to a big window. I like the coffee table idea too. I can go on…lucky you!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:59:40
Hi Dana!
I knew people would be excited about that blue door! The paint is in pretty good shape too – it’s really not my color though! I REALLY want to make a vintage sign BUT i am stuck by finding the right method to put the letters on there. . . . I really wish i had an opaque projector!!
thanks for taking the time to let me know you were here, once again!
breida
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:55:11
Keep in mind, Breida doesn’t even know how many doors (and window sashes) we have laying around. I just can’t bring myself to get rid of this stuff, even when I am in the midst of a super crazy clean up the barn day. I need to bring her to the basement of our office building, which is an old victorian 2 family. We have LOTS of old doors, mantel mirrors, and even original corner cabinets, oh, and a huge soapstone slop sink! I will never be able to get her out if I bring her down there!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 13:01:10
oh, I bet it won’t be so hard to get her out of that basement (I could come, too!) so long as there is a very big truck parked at the curb and a couple of well-muscled people around to schlepp stuff to the truck! Please wait until I visit to take her for a tour of the office building basement… pleeeeeeeeze!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:58:29
Okay…I’m going to go against the tide and say rehang the hayloft door on the barn as a slider for over the window just for architectural delight (and ya’ never know when you might close it during one nasty Nor-easter to protect the window)! Use any or all of the others for headboards, coffee tables, outdoor tables (low and eating height), cut in half for outdoor side tables … whatever is needed or desired!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 13:13:46
You know, Guerrina – that is exactly what Mark (Mr. Social Media) wants to do with that door. And I agree that it should probably end up back there eventually. But in the meantime – it would look pretty awesome in our bedroom!!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 12:59:49
Hey, Breida…go get Mark’s soapstone slop sink….hurry!!!!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 13:00:33
But make sure to come back!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 13:14:50
Well, I knew about the slopsink. . . but i did NOT know about the MANTEL MIRRORS or the CORNER CABINETS!!!!
I’ll be right over, honey!!!!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 17:23:49
My favorites are the two in the middle – the dark one and the white one. Bet you’re suprised I like that white one huh?!! I like using old doors as just a fun accent piece in my living room. Lean it against a wall, hang a wreath on it – call it good!
Sep 28, 2012 @ 19:11:44
those are my favorites too, Jill. i was all set to bring the white one in to make it into a Fall decoration on the mantel. . . but it turned out to be too big (long/tall). I’m working on a new plan (much like the one you mentioned!) Stay tuned!
b
Oct 03, 2012 @ 10:06:25
I’m seeing a start to a barn party there Breida! tun them on their sides, put on top of bases and start planning the menu! Tell the guests to bring their favorite chair! Hang your lights, place the candles and Mr. Social Media can handle the music. Your set! {I hope I get an invite!}
Oct 03, 2012 @ 10:09:18
wow – that sounds like SUCH a good idea! sawhorses! i have such CREATIVE readers! I never even thought of that!
breida
Oct 03, 2012 @ 11:25:31
Breida, my friend, Heidi, tells me you’re a local blogger. I have a blog, too, and I live in the Hudson Valley. Nice to meet you!
Claudia
mockingbirdhillcottage.com
Oct 03, 2012 @ 12:09:41
um, Claudia. I’ve just gone to your blog and seen your picture. . .
would you happen to remember a strange woman who approached you in the parking lot at the grocery store saying something about how much you resemble her mother? yes? well.
it is a very small world indeed.
ps. i recognize your house, too. i could throw a rock (which i would never do!) and hit you. we are neighbors, Claudia! very close neighbors!!
breida
Oct 03, 2012 @ 13:05:29
Oh my god. It’s you! We have to get together sometime! You can email me at the contact address on my blog. I’d love to know where you live!
xo
Claudia
Oct 03, 2012 @ 18:32:26
Oh! Now I know where you live! We are very close neighbors indeed. And your house is one of my favorites around here.
xo
Claudia