PIEREN CENTURY FARM
The Pieren farm has a rich history of Swiss heritage. Granddaughter Sarah and her husband Jason recently moved in with the intention to update this 50’s style home. They adorn the farmhouse with her ancestors’ belongings. The antique farm equipment and handcrafted wooden trunks are reminiscent of museum goods; and yet they have as much place as they always have, now mingling with the modern lifestyle of the next generation.
We were invited to fashion countertops from plywood, and finish them in an Oak faux bois style. We began walking around the property, searching for countertop inspiration. In no time we had cumulated a generous appreciation for the many textures and designs of the farmstead, and had built references of what we wanted the product to look like.
After sourcing plywood and building it into countertops, it was time to distress the wood. We had fun with this part, hammering it, dropping chains and ancient screws on it, and cutting along the edge to make it look handsawn. To transform the wood into an oak grain, we applied a spray primer and followed with a hand sand. Our custom-mixed base paint was sprayed on. Using a tooth spalter and a swatch of burlap, I traced out the figure of the oak. Before it dried, we brought in the rubber sculpting tool to define the grain, and then we softened the grain with a badger brush. A metal comb created that porous effect found in oak as I cut through the grain.
A mixture of a traditional oil glaze, turpentine and linseed oil was applied to the countertop. The next step was to incorporate the natural character of oak by adding a few knots, and then we gave the surface another (lighter) beating. Paint was spilled and splattered, rings from paint jars were set atop it; these signs of subtle distressing left the wood looking like it could have been found in the barn or workshop -- while also appearing elegant and refined. To seal the fresh detail, a varnish was applied in several coats with wet sanding in between. A final layer of epoxy brought our project to a close. These countertops are the center of countless family gatherings, Sarah and Jason welcoming friends in and preparing nourishing meals. “I love your wood countertops!” most say as they run their hands along the top, not realizing it’s hand-painted plywood.
Being incredibly pleased with the outcome, they asked if we could remodel the upstairs bathroom. We decided to feature the floor, and build the rest of the bathroom around it. The whitewashed floors throughout the house inspired us to bring continuity to the bathroom. We began with plywood and aged it with paint spattering, bringing depth to the otherwise uniform wood. We then painted a formulaic diamond tile pattern onto the floor, giving it a patina and capturing the feel of years of use.
To incorporate a border around the edge of the floor, we hand taped out a margin. Custom fit for this bathroom, we began to paint a solid white border. As we worked, we saw that it would benefit from a bit more detail; so a thin inner border was added. The composition of the aging where the floor would have naturally been more worn down, from foot traffic or in front of the toilet, made this floor look like it had been there for years, along with the rest of the gracefully aging farmhouse.
Once the floor was sufficiently designed and completed, we put our focus on creating bathroom walls that would harmonize with the seasoned-looking tile floor. The bathroom was a remodel, so we decided to camouflage the walls through added texture. We opted to use paintbrushes because Sarah’s grandparents would have used them, as well as lime paint for the walls. In such a room that often fills with steam from the shower, lime brings an enlivening effect. Just like a stone being washed by the tide, the lime comes alive briefly, and then goes back to its neutral status. These natural color variations briefly darken the lime, bringing the room to life for a moment.
We began to apply lime paint. Five layers of different whites began to merge with the wall as we brushed on the paint in vertical, linear strokes. This strié gave the room height. Consecutively going from warmer tones to cooler, layer by layer, the walls became an evolved flowing white. Once it dried, we hand sanded to reveal multiple fine shifts in these tones of white. Sealing it with a plaster sealer and a thin, hand rubbed wax coat left it lustrous and protected from the varying moisture levels it would withstand.
The farmhouse’s whitewashed shiplap walls led us to bring this same effect to the inset area around the mirror and bathroom sink. Thin sections of pine received an aging solution to bring the tannins out of the wood. Still feeding off of the inspiration we found in the barn’s wood, we made these pieces of wood look like they had been in the barn for a century. One hundred years ago, lime wash had been painted on, but had worn off with years of use. Where the lime had been worn off with time and season, the wood was exposed. We achieved this effect around the sink by hand sanding after applying limewash. Finally, wanting to adhere it to the wall with old nails from the farm, we discovered a coffee can of rusty, old nails.
Seeking components for the bathroom’s countertop, we headed back to the barn and found lumber originally milled for the barn floor. We collected a few pieces for the vanity. After it was built, we aged it with custom color work; artist oils with a palette, brought to the desired tone of wood that we wanted. It was made to look older, with the edges around the sink darker where water would have been splashed over the decades.
The legacy of family, weathered equipment and useful material was embedded into these rooms, bringing to mind the family members that lived here all those years ago. This home is open, inviting everyone to make themselves at home.