Turning Something Old Into Something New
story by Jordan Pupa
With a little hard work and imagination, anything can become useful again, however, it takes the right creative mind and talent to give repurposed treasures a special touch. Jack and Victoria Howard have what it takes to turn old pieces into something else, making them beautiful again, and giving them a second chance at life. They share their pieces at The Barn in Mullins, a shop they opened that specializes in interior design and custom furnishings from reclaimed lumber.
The Barn offers unique hand-crafted pieces that can bring style to your home including teakwood furniture, décor and signs, cotton linens, barn doors, farmhouse tables, mantels, hand-hewn beams, and more. They can even create custom pieces and provide interior design assistance and advice. Victoria’s creativity stems from her father, Mitchell Kozazcki, who was a full-time artist. His influence of art and creativity was embedded in her. She started painting and designing in Myrtle Beach and was an instant blossom, as everyone loved her work. Jack was from North Carolina and grew up on a tobacco farm. Victoria liked the old barns, so Jack took one down and started making furniture from it. The furniture became popular due to its incredible character, quality, and design.
In 2016 they decided to open up a shop in Mullins to share their hand-designed items with others. Around that time, Mullins was in need of an anchor store that would draw people in from near and far. One of the reasons the Howards chose Mullins was because of its location, interstate 95, and easy accessibility to major cities, making it convenient for travelers to visit. At the time, the downtown area could be described as a “ghost town” and was in need of some life, something that The Barn was able to help with. Today, Main Street is full of activity and smiling faces. Howard shares, “My wife and I are both well-traveled, and it’s great to live in Mullins. Everyone is so friendly and happy here, which is unlike any other place we have seen.” The team at the Barn also includes designers Drew McPeek and Indya Sheehan, as well as Karen Baker, who cleans, paints, and assists with building furniture.
They even encourage having different walls in the same room in order to give the room more dimension. Examples of accent walls include a wall that is wood, stucco, or painted another color. Additionally, painting dark furniture white or a “pop color” can bring light to a room. Pulling furniture away from the wall versus against the wall can create intimacy and help divide a room for better traffic flow, creating new focal points. Lastly, they suggest replacing small clutter with large usable items.
Give The Barn a visit today and find an affordable, handcrafted, one-of-a-kind piece for your home! It is well worth a stop to browse!
If you’re looking for some direction in updating your home this year, Jack and Victoria suggest matching by style versus color, mixing old furniture with new, and to not be afraid to have mismatched or different end and coffee tables.
The Barn
131 S. Main St., Mullins, SC
Thurs. & Fri. 10-6, Sat. 9-4, or by appointment
843-424-7078
Facebook: @TheBarnMullins
