A Rustic Garden Blog

We have lots of antique wooden ladders that vary in color so we are able to find a ladder that matches the shelves. The primitive shelving pictured is made of two, 2-rung ladders. The height and width could be altered as well as picking wider ladders and cutting them a little longer. Let us know what your needs are and we can work to find just the right shelf unit.

When you think of all the unique wrought iron wall decor that is available today to decorate your walls I find that I always lean toward Country Antiques. My family has just purchased a vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks and rustic home decor is the direction we are going. It is so easy since I have a business that has 1000’s of rustic antique items to choose from. I usually end up wanting more space to decorate so I don’t have to make the decisions regarding what fun items make the cut.

These  1890 year old shutters have their old original blue paint and the metal wall art is constructed from vintage ceiling tin removed from 1900 era buildings. Architectural Antiques are being recycled into home decor by decorators everywhere.

I never mind coming to work at A Rustic Garden, my garden and antique shop. It does seem like a long winter this year so if the Sun Shines and the temp is above 25 degrees then I am happy.

My friends ask me “what do you do?”  Well I sell unique garden decor! Would you believe we just shipped 165 wood step ladders painted bright yellow to the Brighton Company for display in their stores. Wooden antique ladders are our best wintertime selling items.

Well that would work if the weather were not so very cold. I am seeing my last years plantings that need trimmed back peeking up through the snow but don’t have the incentive to go out in the 20 degree IL temps to trim them.

Being patient is another part of gardening. The rewards will come soon enough. Maybe it would be best to use this time rearranging my collectibles that are displayed on my vintage wooden ladder

Antique wooden ladders are a great way to go GREEN. Every day we get orders from our customers needing a wood ladder to recycle to display the things they love. No need to cut a new tree. These ladders are from the middle 1900’s and their worn surface shows the history of times past.

The primitive aged look is the very reason that they are so popular now.

It is time to add interest to that space where the Christmas Tree stood. Create an area using items that you love for a fresh decorative look. I used this wooden ladder and arranged different antiques to warm up the space and most importantly add color.

Ladders are so versatile whether you lean them vertically as shown or hang them horizontally above a kitchen island or flat against a wall above a sofa.

A Rustic Garden started marketing and selling old wooden ladders nearly ten years ago.  Slowly but surely people started seeing themselves with a ladder leaning in the corner with quilts displayed or leaning by the pool or shower with towels draped.  These antique ladders also make the perfect pot rack over an island in your kitchen.

Last fall A Rustic Garden sold and shipped two 4 rung ladders to every Pottery Barn in the U.S.  totaling over 400 ladders.  Other places you might have seen our old ladders have been Bloomingdales, Ralph Lauren, Levi Strauss, and Silver Jeans, among others.  From an upscale clothing store in Manhattan displaying silk ties to a bookshelf in your home, ladders can add a unique look anywhere.

We have a huge inventory of unique apple ladders and orchard ladders as well as any shape or size of old painting ladders.  We custom cut and paint any ladder, any where from 3′ tall to 20′ tall.  What ever size or style you have in mind we can usually find a ladder to fit your needs.

When decorating for a classic country home, you should always keep an eye toward the past. Ancient farm implements and machinery that are well beyond the point of functional use can still be enjoyed as aesthetic elements. If your antique John Deere mower has finally cut its last patch of grass, you can give it a stately, dignified retirement by using it to adorn the patio or out back in the barn.

A decorative wooden ladder also suggests nostalgia for days gone by – a desirable effect when you’re designing around an old farm house. The ladder might be propped up against the side of the house or even hung from a peg on a fence. It could be used as a trellis to support climbing plants or repainted in an old-fashioned style. Regardless of its structural integrity, a decorative ladder provides a valuable link to country homes of the past.

Over the past several years A Rustic Garden has had success selling antique wooden ladders to Pottery Barn, Levi Strauss, Ralph Lauren and many others to use to display their products. This year is no exception with the recent order from Bloomingdale’s for 33 seven rung ladders to ship all over the United States.

Rustic ladders are such a versatile item that are being used in every room of the house. Our customers use them for towels, pots, magizines, quilts and the latest use is to store high heel shoes. Check us out to see a vintage ladder that will help organize your clutter.

We are making rustic bucket benches from decorative wooden ladders that make great primitive display for your antiques. Country decorating is easy using these vintage boards and a couple ladders.

They vary in height from 24″ to 31″ tall. Their widths are approximately 36″ wide. We can paint them in county colors to fit your decor.