Barn + armoire = Barnoire.

Barnoire's History
Barnoire Furniture and Cabinetry was born in 2001, when an inspired client commisioned Raphael to build an office armoire out of her old dismantled barn. In jest, this piece was dubbed to be in the style of “barnoire” (barn + armoire = barnoire). Little did we know it would serve as the inspiration for our future business! Since that time, we have designed and built a wide range of unique pieces to suit our clients' needs and desires for handcrafted pieces from centuries old, reclaimed lumber.

Raphael Groten
President & Head Designer
Raphael Groten is the Founder and Lead Designer & Builder for Barnoire. As his father and grandfathers were craftsmen, Raphael began projects at a young age. These included building balsa wood airplanes and a kayak of his grandfather's design. Raphael graduated from the University of Vermont in 1996, after studying Philosophy and Music. Two years later he began framing houses for local builders. In 1999, he started his own contracting business, Little Bear Builders. Specializing in design, remodeling and new additions, Little Bear Builders served the greater Burlington area for five years. Since Barnoire's inception in 2001, Raphael has continued to build custom furniture and cabinetry, combining sustainable practices with his love of wood.

The Barnoire Vision
To be leaders of small business in the green economy and to be known throughout New England as designers and builders of distinctive Vermont style. We accomplish this through the reuse of old barns and buildings, creating aesthetic, functunal furniture and cabinetry. By recycling this old wood we not only conserve precious material resources, but also preserve the history of Vermont and New England's cultural heritage. Click on the 'materials' link above to read about our ecological materials including reclaimed lumber and natural finishes.

We take pride in our distinctive, original designs and the care that we put into the construction of each piece. We build and install with quality and craftsmanship that will last for generations to come, creating tomorrow's antiques with yesterday's woods.

Ecological Materials
Reclaimed Lumber
In choosing salvaged wood, we aim not only to recycle valuable materials, but also to capture the story of each board's unique history. Old nail holes and live edges found in these centuries old woods, including pine, spruce, and hemlock, lend a depth of character and a rustic aesthetic to our work. These boards can often be 16-40 inches in width, dimensions that are otherwise unavailable in today's market. These widths also tell the age of each tree, some of which are over 600 years old. It is an honor to reclaim this wood, as it comes from our old growth forests and would otherwise be burned or left to rot in the fields. Our refinishing includes the planing of boards designated for surfaces (such as tables or countertops) as well as the thorough sanding of all pieces. These processes uncover brilliant patinas that have been hidden for centuries.

We handpick our wood through our main supplier, Early Preservations, who dismantle barns and buildings which are beyond repair, as well as Antique and Vintage Woods of America, who carry over 1 million board feet! All parts of buildings are incorporated into our work, including wall, roof, and floorboards, stud framing, posts, and beams (square and rounded).

Natural Finishes
To further our ecologiocal commitment, we choose to use low VOC finishes from Sutherland Welles Ltd.® that are safe for your family and the environment. For a complete description of finish options please see our order form.

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