The Piano: The founder of Kroeger Pianos, Henry C. Kroeger, worked as a lead designer and builder at the famous Steinway & Sons Piano company before going out on his own. He later brought on his sons, Henry Jr and Otto, and formed Kroeger & Sons Piano Co. Gildemeester & Kroeger was formed when P.J. Gildemeester joined Kroeger and Sons Piano in 1890 and lasted until 1896. Their instruments were known to be of exceptional build and quality. We estimate this piano to be around 126 years old.
The Former Owners: Barn & Brick found this piano in the quiet town of Athol, NY. Sitting on Jack’s porch the piano was often played by his grandchildren when they came to visit. Jack was a kind man that loved talking about living in New Jersey before venture to the stillness of the ADK’s. His homemade basil marinara sauce and sweet barbecue sauce were always for sale during the annual town-wide garage sales each year. Before Jack, the original owner of the home and piano was a piano teacher. She gave lessons children around Warrensburg,NY for decades on this piano. She was part of the French resistance in the 1940’s before emigrating to the US and settling in the region.
The Repurpose: Our passion is reviving amazing old pieces to give them a new life. This piano was the perfect candidate. Each year we set out to create something special to donate to the Double H Ranch Gala. We put our heads together with Robin, from the ranch, and decided to build a piano bar. Our goal was to keep as much of the essence of the original piano as possible while still creating a functional and subtly designed focal point. We tore the entire piano down and reused the pieces in new ways. The bar surface is birds eye maple that was originally facing inside the piano and not seen for more than one hundred years. We flipped it around, stripped it, and refinished it. Custom wine glass holders were added to the top. We also used reclaimed oak, cut angled holes, and mounted them to hold 8 wine bottles in a way that accented the overall piece. Our final touch was to add custom L.E.D lighting around the perimeter of the piano to really make a statement.
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We love farmhouse design for so many reasons. It represents a tasteful homage to the history of our country. When families needed a new piece of furniture or clothing 100 years ago they couldn't go to the nearest mall or shopping center and buy it. They had to hand build it from what they had around them. Old tables would be made longer to accommodate growing families. Very little was thrown away and things were made to last. Design was created out of function and utility. That simple aesthetic is what drives us to create heirloom quality pieces that fit perfectly in your home.
ADK Cherry Farmhouse Table with simple X legs.
We built this table and bench for a young family in Vermont. They needed a table that could fit in their 1800's farmhouse and accommodate a growing family. We sat down together and got to know their tastes and design preferences and then designed this table and bench specifically for them.
The top.
A table with character. We used some gorgeous reclaimed cherry from the Adirondacks. Double bread-board style inserts added an extra 3' for holiday gatherings and family functions. This wood was cut in Saranac Lake and dried for years in an old shed. The light and dark grain pattern is rare and we loved it. It is accented by knots and bug marks to give it an even more rustic flair.
Look at those legs.
The legs are reclaimed barn beams approx 4"x4" sized and set up in an X design. The stretcher on this table was one of our favorite pieces of wood. It had amazing bug markings that added a wicked "patina texture" to the overall piece.
A bench for 3.
This cute little bench was a simple design that matched well with the table. We used a mix of reclaimed oak, barn wood with original red paint, and hemlock. A little sanding and planing brought this wood to another level.
We still have some of these Cherry boards left.
If you have a pinterest board full of your dream tables and would love to have a custom table built, please contact us today and let's make it happen!
]]>We hand built this reclaimed rustic side table that is perfect for any home decorating style. Barn and Brick Co. loves mixing rustic design with farmhouse decor.
What makes for some great picking? A Hurricane.
August 21, 2011 Hurricane Irene took a vacation from the Caribbean and headed up to the North East. Living in the Adirondacks at the time we felt the full effects of this tropical doozy. Rivers, creeks, and lakes jumped their banks and roads were rendered impassible. When the water receded we were left with piles of spectacularly random objects. We cruised around and loaded our trailer with twisty driftwood as well as formally domesticated wood (table tops, fencing, 2x4's, etc).
This is where Irene the side table was born.
We found this gorgeous table top in pieces. After carefully restoring the table top we began building the base. Using several twisty pieces of driftwood and roots we secured them all together using a large lag bolt that was found in the rubble. The roots were amazing with their negative spaces where river stones had once blocked the growing root. The small stretcher brace still shows this in two places where the wood curls and twists.
Now Irene is completed and ready for her next adventure.
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