Updates On the Barn Project

The structure of the barn project is finished, but the finishing touches are still in the works. The stain we used was an opaque one called "Bay Blue" from Lowes. It came the closest to what I was looking for, and it has a great deal of variation, depending on the light. I appreciate that complexity in the color. It's fun. Almost like a different room every time you walk in. 

Here it is with moderate light on a cloudy afternoon. (Today)

I'm sharing a wider view below because to the left of the photo, against, the wall, there will be an electric fireplace with white mantle. In the center of the chairs, there will be a round, wooden coffee table with wrought iron legs. Both are on the way.

The next photo was taken yesterday, at a different time of day, and you can see the color changing.

Here it is another day, before I moved the loveseat. You can also see the large round window that looks into the barn. It's really hard to capture the entire room from any one perspective, but this is pretty close.

Here it is on yet another day, and you can see the view of breezeway and stalls.

Look at how blue it was this day.

 grandson photo bomb.

The fun leaded glass windows we found.

The sink cabinet was really throwing me off, and I wrote a post about it. There were so many possibilities. However, as I looked at the rustic metal roofing we used, taken from an old barn in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, and saw the leftover pieces we had, it struck me that we should build our own and use that metal. The sink will be placed on the wall below where the plumbing is coming out of the wall.

I drew up some plans for my husband. Haha! Poor guy. But he got the picture enough to accompany me to Home Depot and help me buy the parts necessary for him to make it come to life.

Obviously, I am not an engineer or an architect.

Here's where it's at so far.

The top is a butcher block style counter top they sell at Home Depot, and is acacia wood. We're going to sand it down and stain it some version of the mixed redwood/walnut, then seal it. My husband is going to cut a portion out for the sink on the right. He's also going to cut off 3" on each side to give it an equal lip all the way around. 

Here are some of the parts that will be installed when it's done. A white, cast iron sink by Kohler, a black, wrought iron look faucet, also by Kohler, and a small hot water tank.

The cat modeling my old table is Tuffy. He was born in the barn almost 13 years ago, and he is loving the new room. My husband built him his own door to go in and out, but he prefers to stay in. Unfortunately, he isn't one to use the kitty litter box much. We will have to figure out how to train him better, if that's possible at his age.

Here's another photo of the cabinet, in an earlier stage. My husband used the leftover blue pine as the bottom shelf.

Here he is cutting the metal panels.

So, we are not ready for our final "reveal," but this gives you a good idea of where we're going. 

I have to admit, I will be very happy when my barn is no longer a construction project, but considering everything we've been through in the last few months, it is a miracle we've gotten this far. 

Speaking of miracles...I had my husband drive me back to my wishing fountain, aka the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park. 

It almost looks like a portal to the universe, doesn't it? 

Well, as we pulled up one evening, I looked around my car to see if there was anything we could leave there as a marker of the wish, and I found exactly two pennies in the center consul. Two shiny pennies, one for me, and one for my husband. We took turns going to the center and sending up a wish & a prayer.