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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY MARCH 24, 2018 3 M O R D E N REMILLARD SEED FARM Grower and Processor • Pedigreed Seed • Oil Seed Merchant • Birdfood Commodities Ph. 1-204-737-2376 Fax. 1-204-737-2092 email remillardseed@hotmail.com Remillard Seed Farm Hwy 14 2nd Rd East P.O. Box 45 St. Joseph, MB R0G 2C0 Midway, 4H Cattle & Horse Shows, Parade, Provincial Percheron Show, Demo Derby FREE French Fries all Weekend Come Join the Fun!! 139 th Annual Fair July 12, 13, 14 Vanderveen's Greenhouses Ltd. Box 957, Carman, Manitoba ROG OJO Telephone: (204) 745-3534 Fax: (204) 745-3920 www.westernsd.mb.ca Open Spacious Apartments Enjoy an independent lifestyle in a warm community setting for those who are retired or semi retired in Southern Manitoba. Everything is on one level, garage is heated and includes storage, meals are available. Rent includes all utilities. Email Cindy at cindyek@mts.net or call 1-866-449-0254 toll free Local number is 204-362-7151 7 River Rd. Rosenort, MB 204-746-8411 Let us give you a quote on your home insurance For all your insurance needs • Home • Auto • Business • Farm • Drivers Licensing • www.reider.ca ROBLIN PLAZA, 1-880L 15TH STREET WINKLER, MB R6W 0H5 OFFICE: 204-331-4440 KEC QSPKFDU FOHJOFFSJOHJOD ROBLIN PLAZA, 1-880L 15TH STREET WINKLER, MB R6W 0H5 OFFICE: 204-331-4440 Owner Blayne Wyton says every piece of wood tells a story. Photos by Darcy Finley Barnyard Chic Reclaimed wood on the cutting edge of rustic trend BY LINDSEY WARD T rends come and trends go, but barn wood lasts for- ever. And hey, it's pretty trendy too — at least when it's in the hands of Blayne Wyton. The owner of Prairie Barnwood has some stylish tricks up his sleeve for his company's spring furniture line — and you can see it all being made at their new headquarters in the heart of Morden. "We are developing a more modern line of furniture," says Wyton. "So it's all reclaimed wood but we're kind of going more into a bohemian look." The new pieces designed by Wyton and his wife Tara offer a more streamlined look inspired by mid-century furniture and the works of late U.S. architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In other words, these aren't your grandfather's creations. "When you think of barn wood, you think of picture frames your grandpa would make, but there's so much more to it," Wy- ton laughs. Wyton founded Prairie Barnwood in 2008 after a road trip through southern Ontario, Wisconsin and Illinois, when the idea to tear down one of those ancient barns you see on the side of the road sprang to mind. He returned home and located a 19th-century barn south of Winkler in Rosengart, and dismantled it with the only employee of his then-company Windsor Furniture. As they were taking it down — board by board, nail by nail —his co-worker asked him, "What do we keep?" Wyton's response: "I don't have a clue." Clearly, he soon figured out that old wood could be made into chic, sturdy furniture — with a little help from his friends since every board has to be de-nailed, brushed with steel to remove dust and manure, and kiln-dried to kill off bugs and moisture. After he had completed a few tables, Wyton realized their profit potential, but was surprised to learn he was on the cutting edge of the reclaimed wood furniture and home decor trend. Yes, he was nailing the rustic look five whole years before those Fixer Upper folks entered the scene. Wyton notes that many people are now finding shortcuts to come up with rustic- looking wood, whereas Prairie Barnwood builds every piece of furniture with original wood — and he can tell you what region it came from, and the story behind the barn it was built from. "I think what's so attractive is that (the furniture) comes with a story that customers can tell," he says. "I think the other thing that really intrigues people is that it's kind of beat up. It has a deep grain into it, it has nail holes and knot holes. It's almost like the story of the wood is what attracts us and makes it so beautiful." Plus, there's the quality factor. Wyton, whose great-grandfather built furniture for Eaton's in the early 1900s, takes pride in building solid furniture, "just the way it was made 100 years ago." Customers can see for themselves at Prai- rie Barnwood's shop and showroom at 445 Jefferson St. in Morden. The main floor and mezzanine feature 2,000 square feet of displays, including bed- room suites, dining sets and small furniture items. Head upstairs and large windows al- low you to see right into the shop where the furniture is being built. "If you're local to Manitoba, it's definitely worth the trip," Wyton says. "You can get a good idea of how we do it and you get to meet the people building your furniture." Along with their most popular items — heavy dining room tables, decorative feature walls and fireplace mantles — Wyton's build- ers (there are eight employees in total) fill custom orders. Currently, they're outfitting nine massive tundra vehicles tourism com- pany Churchill Wild uses for viewing polar bears and northern lights with reclaimed wood. They're also about to start on another unique project: A makeover of a tour bus for Winkler band The Color. Memorable past orders include a massive round bar for a Calgary customer, a dining room table for a member of the New Jersey Devils and hardwood floors for a ritzy home in The Hamptons. The bulk of Prairie Barnwood's business is in Western Canada and the Maritimes, but social media helps this small-town company spread the word. Already on Instagram and Twitter, it's developing a YouTube chan- nel with how-tos and inside views of pieces under construction. But if you're in the Morden neighbour- hood, Wyton really hopes you'll drop in to see him in person. "I just really want people to see that they can come down to our shop here and see how it's built," he says. "You can pick out your designs, your wood, your texture, and we will build it." ■ "We are developing a more modern line of furniture. So it's all reclaimed wood but we're kind of going more into a bohemian look." – BLAYNE WYTON

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