Who knew you could create an amazingly unequalled , attractive and stunning accent wall for next to nothing – all by plainly reprocess erstwhile whisky barrels and lids !
After we lastly complete the iron and wood step rail task at our sure-enough farmhouse last summer , we be intimate we require a different look for the independent stair wall . When we first built the house back in 2016 , we used galvanized metal on the wall to link in the look of ceiling .
We actually loved it as the meter , but when we append the iron and wood railings , the wall seemed to too stark and uninviting . Especially against the backdrop of the white rails , tarnish step and the solid black steel posts .
We knew we wanted something unique to play up the stairs , but just could n’t find the correct look . And did we ever look high-pitched and gloomy . In fact , I cogitate the Pinterest hunting bar on our computers and phones were wore out from accent rampart searches !
It is always amazing how inspiration can descend at the peculiar of sentence and in the strange of property . For us and the whiskey wall , it pass off to be at theTangled Woodrestaurant in Bettendorf , Iowa . Which by the way , happen to be a full three states west from our Ohio home !
It was really the first sentence we had ever been to Iowa . prosperous for us , it was the perfect time to check it out . Looking for a good billet to have lunch , we asked a local for a recommendation . Before we be intimate it , we found ourselves walk through the front threshold of the Tangled Wood .
As soon as we step inside , the wood whiskey paries caught our attention . By the time our eight hour drive home was over , we knew we had to seek to make our own DIY variant for the farm house wall . The eternal sleep , as they say , is story !
Perhaps the best part of all was that make it all was not only gentle , but extremely affordable . Here is a tone at how we built the wall , along with a few photo of the process along the way .
The bulwark is made using woods from the entire barrelful . The physical structure of a whiskey barrel is made up of long , slightly curving pieces of oak call lag . The staves are not paste , but banded together by alloy to take shape the barrel shape .
The barrels are then set over a red-hot flame and the inside are charred . This charring gives incredible flavor and color to the whiskey as it age in the barrel . A wooden lid ( assembled with pegs and not gum ) is then used on each side to tightly varnish the barrel . The whisky is then added , and the magic of the aging appendage begins .
Whiskey barrels are used to geezerhood whisky one time . Although some barrels are reprocess to age and tot tone to other strong drink for a 2nd life , many others are but sold off . One thing is for sure , if you take the time to look around , used barrels and the individual staff and lids can be found quite easy for sales agreement .
After a bit of inquiry , we found a used whisky barrelful provider about 20 minutes away from our home plate . Although price can vary , we were capable to purchase rung for around $ 2 a part , and the lids for $ 6 to $ 10 based on their condition .
When looking for barrels or individual piece , do n’t get too alarmed if the wood is grey or looks worn . It cleans up well and will shine with a coat of polyurethan . However , always avoid wood that is warped or split , it simply wo n’t work well for create walls .
you could build an accent whiskey wall out of staves or the lids . We decided to utilise a combination of the two for a really unique looking at . In fact , one of the best parts of this project is there are so many way to make it your own .
Using a sander , we start by thinly clean house off the outside of the lag and lids . We were exceedingly careful not to sand too deeply to rub off the patina or any of the stump password on the cured barrel wood .
Light sanding is the key fruit to achiever for making the barrel forest really look good again . pass over and cleansing is too time run through , and really wo n’t get rid of the old , grey wood facial expression . But luminosity sand will !
Before assemble the staves and chapeau man , we needed to first darken the back wall that we were fastening them to . Without doing this first , it allows the back rampart to show through between the bound of the whisky woods .
Since we had metal in place before , we took our bulwark down to plain scantling . Next , we covered it using 11/16″ thick OSB circuit board . Once the wood backing was in place , a quick coat of black paint darkened the backdrop dead .
you’re able to use plyboard or OSB if covering scantling , but OSB will be the less expensive pick . They both hold nails perfectly all right when attaching the whiskey board .
So what about dry wall ? If you have an subsist wall of drywall , it can lick , but it will be difficult when nailing the boards to it . With drywall , you need to verify to nail into the studs or the wood simply wo n’t stay in piazza . And with small opus , it can make it very hard to always retrieve a stud .
Although gluing is another selection , it too has drawback . Because the wood is not always flat , the glue just does n’t have enough surface contact lens to work . For us , the OSB or plywood boards are the best option of all . It allow you to nail anywhere you take , no matter the size of the woods piece .
Once the backing is in shoes , it is time to put all of the individual whiskey barrel “ puzzle ” pieces together . By far , this was our preferred step of all . Not only was it fun to fitting them all together , it was degraded and prosperous to do !
For the bottom portion of the wall we used the longer rung to create a weaving effect . To bind each stave , we shot 2″ nails from a nail gun through each goal . Because the staves twist , the only place to secure them is on the end .
Although I am trusted you could peg the boards by hand , a nail gun is really a must . The hard , aged oak tree is really toughened to drive a nail through . In fact , I had to turn the pressure up a bit on my nail hired gun just to get it to set into the forest .
With each newfangled row of stave , we staggered the stave so they would not ordinate with the previous wrangle . This is easy to do by using a dower of a round to begin a row , and then continuing on with full pieces . Staggering really gives the wall a great profile look . Even more , it helps blot out the blank space of the fore between each lag .
We could have created the whiskey barrel wall entirely from stave . In fact , we almost did just that . But to sum a little more pursuit , we decided to throw in some of the lid pieces too . The lids are often stamped with the still name and stigmatisation , and for us , the flavor was too coolheaded not to practice .
To make a conversion from the stave rampart to the eyelid wall , we peg in a small wrangle of barrel lid edge . With their half - moonlight shape , the rounded border are perfect for creating a natural transition . But even better , by jutting out above the lower wall , they are great for declare bottles or photos too !
Once the modulation bound were in place , we start redact in pieces of the whisky hat for the top incision . As mentioned above , we used the rounded corner terminate of the lids for the changeover – but that gave us the center area of the wood lid to feather off and use for the top wall .
The lids come asunder quite easily . In fact , it is as easy as prying between the edge of each spell of lid Grant Wood to separate them . The joggle that book each board of the lid in place come out quite easily as well using a yoke of pliers .
Once the pieces are separated , we accept our chopper go through ( you could employ a jig saw as well ) to cut off the round edge of each part to square them off . We kept some of the stamped lid in tact . The wording from the still really turns the paries into quite the conversation slice . To use whole lids , we cut the corners off to make them into larger squared - off pieces .
Just as with the staves , we used a nail gun to tack the eyelid pieces on the paries . We used the jigsaw to swerve off any piece that did n’t quite fit together . In the remnant , it was really like creating one big puzzle !
Once the rampart is all together , the final touch is adding the polyurethane sealing coat . And commit me when I say the seal coat makes all the difference !
We sweep on two coats of polyurethan over the wood on the bulwark . The poly really darkened the wood , and made the stamped name come up to life . It also avail protect the wall and keep junk from sticking to it as well .
How much do we love the wall ? So much so that we will are creating an entire accent paries in the nifty elbow room from the staves and lids in our novel farmhouse ! It really is such a unique and beautiful look , we just could n’t imagine not renovate it !
Here is to produce your own DIY whisky accent paries ! Happy DIY’ing , Jim and Mary .
Jim and Mary Competti have been compose horticulture , DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 Accho Ohio farm . The two are frequent speakers on all things garden and love to travel in their spare time .
