Young Couple Restores Old Dairy Barn For Their Beautiful Country Wedding
Television shows that focus on home remodeling has exploded in popularity over the last few years. It’s easy to see why- these shows are fun, easy to watch, and downright inspirational. We’ve all binge watched a few too many episodes and then spent the afternoon dreaming about our eminent career as a home decorator (no need to be ashamed), but very few of us have actually followed through on those short-lived dreams.
Mike and Alisha Mathalia, however, made their dreams a reality! Just this year, the young couple purchased an old dairy barn in Upstate New York. They put blood, sweat, and tears into restoring the decrepit building, and ended up creating something truly magical. And then, they did what any smart couple would do- they got married in it! Take a look and see!
The couple began their work by cleaning all the dust, grime, and cobwebs out of the barn. After this deep cleaning, they sanded and stained the wood. We’re sure that this step took a long time! They also went thrift shopping for antique appliances and furniture.
They sanded and painted these pieces, like the fireplace shown above, to give them a distressed look and give the barn a rustic feel. They also went searching for rugs that would add warmth and comfort to the space. When you’re in New York, you always have to be considering how you’re going to cope when the winter months come. Kudos to them for thinking ahead!
They also gave the outside of the barn a facelift! A few coats of paint, some new dormer windows, and an expert landscaper all combined to make the barn’s exterior sparkle. But, if you think this is pretty, you’ll hardly believe what it’s like inside!
They chose to leave the barn’s hayloft unfinished and unpolished. This is to show visitors what the building USED to be like, and to make guests feel almost as if they’re being transported back in time. They did, however, use old mason jars, barrels, and flowers to decorate the loft. It’s truly beautiful up there!
The Mathalia couple also hung string lights across the support beams of the barn. Interestingly enough, these “string lights” are really candles nested inside mason jars. This effect creates a beautiful star-like atmosphere for the room. Coupled with the massive amount of space and lofted ceilings, this seems like the perfect place for a first dance!
We’re thinking the guests were enjoying the country vibes at this wedding reception- just look at the cowboy boots in the background!
Of course, it would be silly for them to invest all their time and money into this project for just one wedding. So, the family has now opened up the space for public use. Weddings, board meetings, birthday parties, and bar or bat mitzvahs can now be held in the aptly named “Hayloft On The Arch.”
With views like these, it’s easy to see why this space would be such a popular venue. Who knew that an abandoned dairy barn could be transformed into something so breathtakingly gorgeous!