Reclaimed Wood Garage Doors Add a Vintage Charm

It was easy falling in love with “rural” living when I moved to Northern California to study at Sonoma State University. I would run past the vineyards, the Christmas tree farm and my neighbors’ horses, cows and chickens. I would breathe in the smell of manure and freshly baked bread from the bakery down the street (obviously an unusual pairing). But one of my favorite sights was the old dilapidated barns. They were beautiful—full of history. They were worn through and through by storms but still standing.

These structures were a far cry from the buildings I grew up with in South Orange County. I was used to strip malls and Cape Cod or Spanish style two-story single family homes. These old barns had character! They had a past—were well used, well loved. They once provided income (or so I dreamed) for hard-working farmers to support their families for generations to come. Since I grew up in our family business Entry Systems, I have a deep appreciation for small, family-run companies. I felt pride and nostalgia looking at those beautiful, historic barns.