DH thinks I've ruined my whiskey barrel

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

🙄

Last week I bought an old whiskey barrel, we're going to cut it in half to use as planters. It was filthy, black and just really grimy and gross. So I bought some decking cleaner and set to work scrubbing it using my drill brushes. It looks SO much better now! But DH has come home and is horrified at what I've done. He said the 'old and rustic' look is part of the charm and that's what people buy them for. I think rustic is one thing, actual dirt and grime is another.

It's a massive improvement, right?

Yeah, I'm with your husband on this one I'm afraid.

A coat of varnish and it will make a great outdoor table for your wine bottle and glass 😃
Your DH is an arse 😉

I like the original better. Sorry.

Original is way better

They could just be bog standard garden centre barrels once the character has been removed. I’m with your DH.

I'm really surprised a lot of you preferred the grime! It was awful 🤣

@Chasingsquirrels I mainly did the end to see how it would look and make sure the decking cleaner did a good job.

I agree with you but i really disagree with your spelling of whisky.

I’m surprised folks like the dirty version better too. My friend has one, and dirty it looks like shit in real life. Cleaned up it looks much higher quality. Personally as said, I’d not be giving it a coat of Osmo oil and using it as a table.

i think it's irrelevant what posters here think, the only peoples opinion that matters is yours & DH's.

you said 'we bought', not 'I bought' so I assume it was a joint decision to get one (not just yours) so I think YWU just to go ahead & change the look of it without discussing it with DH.

personally I prefer it before. It's going in the garden not the house, it didn't need chemicals on it to remove its character. Make sure you've washed it off as much as you can. And yes, you need to protect it now.

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens I've just read your post again & see I was wrong, you said 'I bought', but WE are going to cut it in half'

so I don't know whose project it is. If it's yours, then you're not unreasonable to have done it, but he's not unreasonable to think you've spoilt it. 💁🏻‍♀️

The last pic looks a bit overdone but it will soon age,

It looks much nicer, it just looked filthy before. Now it looks rustic.

I thought this was going to be about whiskey

I agree with others who have said that you need to oil it or give it a weatherproof protection else it'll rot v quickly.
It will also temper the freshly scrubbed look.

This.

You should have let it lie

Looks Fantastic OP.
Well done.

It's an improvement. Don't varnish it!

It hardly looks brand new now. Still rustic but not dirty. Team OP here.

I think he’s wanging on about the patina. We used to watch antique restoration programs and the guy would be in raptures about some filthy bit of wood having it.

Anyway it’s a plant pot and you’ve done a lovely job. Tell him to STFU.

She hasn’t specified where the barrel came from, so it may be the correct spelling.

I think the barrel looks nice after your renovations OP - once it’s cut in half it won’t really be noticeable either way.

I agree with DH, but you surely not going to keep it sparkly clean anyway

I preferred it before but it's not a biggie

It's just personal taste, I think.

Why does OP have to seal/protect it now she's cleaned it - would the layer of filth protect it otherwise?

I don't get why some folk like dirty, rusty things and claim they are 'rustic'.

Rustic is charming, aged and well used. It is simplicity and sometimes a natural aesthetic. It isn't dirty or unsafe.

You've brought the barrel back to how it looked sitting in the original distillery dunnage. It looks great and tetanus free!