Stories from a Sawmill

Fifteen years or so ago, John bought a sawmill. He wanted to use it to produce lumber for his woodworking projects, and over several years he built up quite a stash of beautiful wood of various types.  He built many projects with that wood.  But still a vast trove of it remained stored away, waiting for just the right project.  Which, as it turns out, is the beach house.  

Over the past few months John has been hard at work on all sorts of projects custom built for the house.  I just love that this wood that’s been sitting for so long finally has a life and a purpose. (And of course, the budget-minded person in me loves the fact that we won’t have to purchase any of these items either!)

Here’s a set of nesting end tables that will most likely be used upstairs in the living room. They are made from elm, and then stained to give them a beachy grey-brown color.

Here’s the vanity top that he built for the upstairs master bath.  The holes are where the sinks and plumbing will be inset. This piece is made of walnut, with a live edge on the front to make the most of the beautiful wood. It is silky-smooth and just makes you want to touch it.

This big hunk of wood will be mounted against a set of three ocean-facing windows with room for bar stools underneath. Below, left is the set of three windows against which the bar will be mounted.

We are picturing it as a great place for additional dining seating, games of chess, puzzle-making, or just sitting with a laptop sipping a hot drink and looking out toward the water. Our contractor says this is where you’d find him if he were living here.

Here are some shelves built for some of the bedroom closets.  They’ll be placed low in each closet to provide a sturdy landing pad for duffel bags and suitcases.  These also have a live edge and are made from elm, but stained in a dark walnut to match what the interior doors will also be stained.

And this is probably my favorite project of John’s, the dining room table.  It should be big enough to seat 12.  I can’t wait to see it surrounded by the people I love.

It is really fun to think that this wood that John milled so long ago will now be part of the beauty of this home that we hope to be able to share with so many other families.  Maybe even yours?

PS– Here’s an even sweeter story about that sawmill of John’s.