An idea to harvest a few pieces of wood from a family barn turned into an epic project to salvage the entire structure and use it in the author’s new home.

She then uses the thick haired brush to “paint” on even strokes a wood stain of choice, opting for a lighter tone to get the true look of a Pottery Barn finish.

But barn wood art, the latest farmhouse decor peppering your social media feeds, has a very specific and fascinating provenance: a community organizer in Adams County, Ohio.