The Neighbour Barn Remodel Part 2: Decorating Towards Authenticity

In Part 1 of this series, I shared some ways that I remodeled my very old, (110 this year!) wine barn into a home. While some aspects of the project were practical– insulation, general safety, etc.– it was very important to me to preserve the barn’s innate beauty, rustic character, and historic charm. 

That continued to guide design and furniture curation as well. By layering local materials with gems I found through my travels, and blending both new and refurbished pieces, the space became personal, unique, and authentic.

Blending Function with Local Materials

The humble sink: a practical necessity that we turned into a statement piece. A customer offered us a modern concrete basin that, to my surprise, fit seamlessly into the space. To mount it, I used a branch of local oak—a nod to the flora here in the Texas Hill Country. 

At first glance, the very modern, utilitarian basin maybe wouldn’t have made sense in the space. The branch added the warmth and vibrancy the barn called for. Incorporating local materials into design choices—whether functional or aesthetic—grounds the individual elements and connects them to their surroundings.

Everyday Pieces with Deep History

My favorite piece in the home might be the rare shepherd’s table I found. Built in 1900 inthe French Pyrenees, it originally belonged to a shepherds’ lodge where everything was collectively owned—meaning the table had to be sold by all thirty members before it could find a new home. Unsurprisingly, it's not a dining table that’s easy to come by.

The black slate is paired with a wooden sawhorse base– the table boasts a loving craftsmanship that I strove to emulate as I turned my barn into a home. Plus, its beautiful time-worn patina makes the table look like it aged alongside the barn itself.

Don't Forget the Basics: Wall Art

We really just love beautiful things at Neighbour, and incorporating the artwork I’ve collected across my trips was a no brainer for me. One of my favorites is a small but beautiful impressionist street scene of Paris. If you catch it just at the right angle, you can see sunlight streaming through the bakery, casting a warm glow on the street. It feels like a winter night in Paris.

Decor is more than an aesthetic choice: it speaks to your history, travels, and interests. Your painting, your lamp, your coffee table: they should be something you want to see every day. Give yourself the freedom to decorate with joy first. 

At Neighbour, we are committed to helping you curate your space to your style and dreams. Shop our online store for new and antique furniture and decor, or drop by our Texas or New Mexico showrooms! We’d love to meet you.