Did not Melville's blacksmith, he of the Pequod and the tormented pursuit of the White Whale, seek refuge upon a time in a "leaning, dilapidated barn"?
So too Henry, the young enlistee from the Red Badge of Courage, did he not fondly recall his pre-war routine when he was "making the endless rounds from the house to the barn, from the barn to the fields, from the fields to the barn, from the barn to the house."
Side Tables Wood
The ubiquitous barn was once a key symbol in the iconography of 19th century America and a convenient marker for the literature of the day. Stolid, sturdy and seemingly everywhere, the American barn was as commonplace in Civil War America as a filling station or grocery mart might be today.
America, of course, in those centuries past, was an agrarian society whose commerce was driven by toil in the fields rather than time clocked in a factory A mere 15 percent of the population resided in urban areas during the mid-1800s and even northern Manhattan hosted farms and livestock through the early 1900s.
The barn served as the factory of that now forgotten day. This oftentimes ungainly edifice was a central, multi-purpose structure that housed foodstuffs and livestock as well as the tools and accouterments of a very difficult trade. In today's day and age, however, when more than 80% of Americans reside in an urban area, the once indispensable barn has been reduced to a curiosity or photo op for those who travel from time to time out to the countryside.
The wooden barn is being chased into ignominy by technology and the demanding standards of an industrialized society. Once a prominent citizen in the architectural neighborhood of agrarian society, the barn has become naught but an orphaned structure left to fend for itself against the severity of the elements.
So, as you consider the purchase of a wood shed assembly kit for your backyard or even your place of business, be mindful that you can renew the tradition, lore and practicalities of the common barn by selecting those wood shed options that were inspired by the design and construction of the country barn.
The Cupola
Consider placing a cupola upon your barn. Once used as a simple, albeit very efficient, convection system, the cupola was originally designed to draw dry, cold air into the confines of a barn while allowing wet, warm air to escape those same confines.
Suppliers such as Suncast Corporation and the Little Cottage Company provide cupola assembly kits that can be fitted to a wide array of the wood sheds that are designed by both of these respective companies. Another supplier, EZup, goes a step farther in this regard and offers a cupola assembly kit that can actually be utilized as a very simple convection system to enhance the airflow of an EZup wood shed.
These cupolas are well appointed and very attractive. Many even have authentic copper roofs. For those with an eye for design, breaking up a flat roof line with an icon such as a cupola from days past can significantly alter the look and feel of that wood garden or storage shed in your backyard.
The Roof Line
American barns used a wide array of roof lines that created both support for the entire structure as well as additional storage space in the upper reaches of the structure itself. The most recognizable roof line on a barn is probably the gambrel roof. This roof lines falls from both sides of the peak of the roof at two different angles as it approaches the walls of the barn. The bulging effect that is created in the roof permits additional storage space in a barn's loft.
EZup and the Little Cottage Company both produce wood shed assembly kits that are covered by sturdy gambrel roofs. Not only do these wood sheds wear the mantle of a barn, these wood sheds also have increased storage capacity due to the bulging effect of the these very roof lines. The Little Cottage Company, in particular, produces a 12 x 24 wood shed assembly kit with a gambrel roof line that actually looks like a small barn.
Another common roof line for a barn is the placement of a gable over the door ends of the barn. A gable, for this purpose, is a triangle that peaks at the highest point on the roof. This east-west orientation for the barn allows for larger barn doors under the increased height of the gable itself.
Each of Suncast Corporation, The Little Cottage Company and EZup produce wood shed assembly kits that place the shed doors on the gable side of the shed. This door placement increases the height of the doors and the size of the equipment that can be stored in these very wood sheds.
The Barn Door
If the barn is the pie of American iconography, then the barn door is the lemon in that pie.
Cowboy westerns in the 50s and 60s all utilized the barn door as a commonplace prop in their repetitious plottings. Countless adages utilize the opening or closing of the barn door as a metaphor for polemics both good and evil. It is truly the inveterate barn door that has become a symbol unto itself of a time that is fast receding in our collective memories.
Fortunately, the Suncast Corporation, The Little Cottage Company and EZup each offer a wide range of double barn doors that can hang as a banner on their numerous wood shed assembly kits. Suncast even makes an enormous 6' x 6' double door that provides entry to just about any type of lawn equipment through what is an enormous portal for a wood shed.
Time passes, of course, and common conventions fall slowly to the wayside in the wake of novelties that are new and improved. The common barn, however, seems to have the historical heft and appeal necessary to maintain its status as an American icon. One venue for this longevity is the ability to build out backyard wood sheds with cupolas, roof lines, barn doors and the other numerous indicia of the American barn.
Most of us live upon parcels of land that were once the province of farmers from long ago. Presumably these farmers would enjoy espying a barn-like structure on their former holdings of land.
Special Price!!! Winsome Wood End Table/Night Stand with Drawer and Shelf, Black
Nov 09, 2011 02:45:16
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Winsome Wood End Table/Night Stand with Drawer and Shelf, Black Feature
- Classic, clean-lined end table/night stand offers casual style
- Crafted of solid beechwood; wood nailhead accents
- Simple carved rails complement roomy storage drawer and open shelf
- Some assembly required; measures 18 inches in diameter by 22 inches high
- Available in Natural, Walnut, Black, or White
Winsome Wood End Table/Night Stand with Drawer and Shelf, Black Overview
Elegantly simple, this night stand has room for all the necessary nighttime accessories.Its curved, smooth design blends well with any style of bedroom decor.Available in 4 finishesWinsome Wood End Table/Night Stand with Drawer and Shelf, Black Specifications
Combining solid beechwood construction with a tidy and practical style, this versatile end table/night stand makes a fresh and clean addition to the room. The oversized tabletop features a straight-edged square shape, while below the four rectangular legs host a deep storage drawer and open shelf. For subtle flair, the drawer front and lower side rails are sculpted with a wide curve that softens the table's overall look. Also notice how the wood nailhead accents and a simple drawer pull offer a tailored finish. Classic enough to stay in style no matter how the furnishings around it change, this table comes in four handsome finishes: Natural, Walnut, Black, and White. It measures 18 inches in diameter by 22 inches high. --Kara KarllSAVE NOW on the special offers below!
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