Wood Barn

Having successfully completed the new drawer unit, I wanted to change the boards that surrounded the ceiling lights. Just a detail but one I thought would be important for the overall look. The brown stained pine that was there wouldn’t suit the new bold look we were going for.

I bought some long oak boards, (2,800mm x 150mm x 20mm) in the same style as I had for the doors. Planed on 3 sides and rough saw cut face. This time I wanted to stain the boards to match the plan I had for our new bed.

Choosing the right stain proved to be trickier than I’d hoped. I sent off for a bunch of test pots from an online store. Using a few off-cuts I experimented. I wanted the boards to be dark but not mask the grain and texture of the wood. Some stains appeared to be like paint, some were too orange, some too brown! It took me a while but in the end, I opted for a black stain from my trusted wood treatment supplier Osmo. The trick to achieve the results I was after was to not paint it on too thick. Easier said than done as it is quite watery and immediately soaks into the wood fibres.

I wanted each board to be different, to be random, to add character to it and against each other. I used a paint brush and the first board I applied too much stain and it ended up being quite black. As I got used to it, I was able to move the brush quicker and more lightly, enabling me to gauge the spread. I used less and less stain on each one. When they were done, I was pleased with the overall result. They belong together but each is different and unique.

I then waxed them with Fiddes clear wood wax, applied with a cloth, to seal the stain in and provide a matt finish.

All that remained was to fix them in place. Easy words and a nightmare to achieve. It took the builder and I pretty much one whole day trying to secure these heavy boards into place. We tried multiple fixings and eventually found one that worked. It wasn’t fun and I realised I wouldn’t have managed to hang them on my own.

Cost: Oak Boards £110, Osmo Wood Stain £15, Fiddes Clear Wax £15 Total £140