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Why Charred Lumber Is the Upgrade Your Next Project Needs
If you’re thinking of building a deck, or even just installing some shelves, but you’re having a hard time choosing a finish for your wood, charred lumber might be right for you. Charring adds color to lumber, making it darker and more visually novel while retaining some of the best features of natural wood—but it can also make timber more durable and water resistant. Here’s what you need to know about charred lumber before starting your next woodworking project. A quick history of charred lumber The technique for charring lumber comes from Japan, and was popular in the Edo period as a way of preserving wood, especially for exterior siding.…
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Trio of Tectonic Structures in Wyoming Echo Shou Sugi Ban
Located on a 35-acre property near the town of Wilson, Wyoming the home was envisioned as a series of “tectonic structures” set within a diverse ecosystem. The home looks toward the Tetons, a mountain range that rises sharply from the Jackson Hole valley. The property features a pine forest and stands of aspens, which transition to a rolling meadow. Composed of three distinct buildings – a main house, guesthouse and writer’s studio – the project was designed for a California-based couple who manage an independent record label. Both homeowners are also authors, and they desired a second home in rural Wyoming where they could write while immersed in nature. Each…
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Off-Grid Italian Restoration Project Preserves Wood with Shou Sugi Ban
Immersed in the woods, Buen Retiro is the restoration and expansion of an ancient stone ruin designed by the architect Dario Castellino from Cuneo. In complete harmony with the surrounding nature, it overlooks the Stura valley in Roccasparvera, in the province of Cuneo, where the mountain gently slopes towards the river. Located in the picturesque area of Broglio (in local jargon “germoglio” or “sprout”), Buen Retiro is a virtuous sprout that revitalizes an ancient place of rural life. The project reflects Castellino’s ongoing commitment to enhancing and requalifying small alpine hamlets, as demonstrated by his interventions in the Cuneo valleys at Paraloup and Campofei. From a partially collapsed ruin, overgrown…
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Maine Barn in Shou Sugi Ban Style
It’s the story of two sportsmen, Didier Bonner-Ganter and Nathalie Nopakun, who became attached to each other while cycling and who settled together near the coast of Maine. They built a small, energy-efficient house in northwest Camden that’s comfortable all year round: cold season, wet season, bug season. She has everything you need. Although the standard property available on the Maine coast was an old farmhouse, the couple didn’t want a large, drafty house that would require constant maintenance. Instead, the two purchased a 26-acre tract of wooded land near a small lake and a string of hills, clearing 2 acres to build a house and barn, with the idea…
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9 Top Trends in the Garden for 2024
2024 is all about the outdoors: Being outside is in! Budgets. Makeovers on a budget are big news. Gone are the magnificent makeovers with the price tag to match. This year we are recycling, upcycling and doing it ourselves. And it’s all about the drama! Dramatic is in. There will be no shrinking violets in the garden this year, we are going to be big and bold. The takeaway advice for an on-trend garden in 2024 is make your backdrop a statement black or grey and your blooms bright. Orange and red flowers really pop against a dramatic backdrop. Decking: it’s still very much in but only if you give…
