LITTLE BITS OF BARN. Mike and Jill Chandler recycle old barns into functional art pieces.

    There is something nostalgic about reused materials. As if the recyclables themselves carry the memories of what they had once been, or who they had once served. It’s almost like the life of its original occupation is transferred to its new home, serving as a reminder of times we don’t always remember, but our emotions can recall. At Once Abarn a Time, Mike and Jill Chandler have mastered this transfer, recycling pieces from run-down barns to create new and lively furniture that brings a little bit of the farm into homes.

“Sometimes you just look at a scrap and think, ‘Wow, that would make a great table.’ So you build one. We just try and work with what we’ve got,” Jill says.

The Chandlers have been using recycled barn wood since 1996, when they got the idea to make functional art in Texas after attending several craft fairs. They moved to Menomonie in 1997, and Jill continued experimenting while Mike started his own construction company. But custom orders quickly piled up and Mike eventually gave up his construction business to spend more time on the barn projects with Jill.

At first, the Chandlers were driving around looking for old barns that were falling apart, hoping for scraps they could use. Now, they often have to turn down offers from people. The Chandlers are not in the business of taking down barns, nor do they buy wood, but they recycle what they can – wood, nails, leather, wire, you name it. They often build custom orders for barn donors.

The process of building a single piece is time consuming, requiring the Chandlers to find the wood, take it down, load it on the trailer, unload it, take the nails out, stack it, clean it, make a design or pattern and cut it up to size before they can actually begin the building process.

    Despite the fact that Once Abarn a Time frequently builds cabinets, benches, tables, and birdhouses, the Chandlers view themselves more as artists than carpenters or woodworkers. Because of the nature of the recycled materials, no two pieces are the same. Knots and imperfections in the wood are left alone and most of their other materials either come directly from the barns or are donated and refurbished from the junkyard. They build mostly for custom orders and craft shows, but they also supply galleries with pieces to sell and frames for artists. “Customers are huge for us,” said Jill. “We want people to know that what they buy is well built and will last a lifetime.”

Once Abarn a Time uses distinctive coloring compared to other barn artists. Rather than relying solely on the reds and grays of the natural woods, their pieces sometimes feature mellow blues and greens that liven up the whole piece. “It’s mostly trial and error,” Jill said. “We try to remove the paint and use sealers, painting over with different stains and paints.” Of course, even this process produces unique parts. “Different types of wood mixed with different colors gives a very different product.”

Today, the Chandlers’ barn art is less of a business and more of a word-of-mouth kind of operation. “My goal is to be free-spirited,” says Jill. “You know, a work-for-yourself kind of life.”

The Chandlers recently took their nostalgia-inspiring business home, moving their workshop from Menomonie to their garage in Lake Tainter with hopes of a cozy gift shop in their basement by the holidays. People are always welcome to contact them for custom orders, barn proposals (remember, they don’t buy), or just to stop by and take a look. Jill can be reached by e-mail at jillchandler58@yahoo.com or by phone at 556-4491. You can also find Once Abarn a Time on Facebook and Etsy.