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The Journey of a Nearly 200-Year-Old Barn to Hazelwood Floors Headquarters

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:27:40 GMT

When we bought our 2-acre property, a historic barn came with it. It was built sometime between 1820 and 1840. By the time we arrived, years of neglect had left it in rough shape.

We were drawn to it anyway because we saw a building worth saving. Restoring the barn meant raising a floor, hauling out years of junk, and laying new yellow pine ourselves.Today it serves as the Hazelwood Floors headquarters. We call it Moon Barn, and it’s where we bring our team, clients, and community together.

We are Craig and Christine Tosland, and our family-owned flooring company has completed hundreds of projects across Ohio. We were also featured in Hardwood Floors magazine’s 40 Under 40, published by the National Wood Flooring Association. This project was different, though, because this time we were our own clients.

The Original Barn of Moon Farm

This whole area where our headquarters sit was once a single farm along Moon Road, known as Moon Farm. The original farmhouse still stands at the corner of Detroit Road and Moon Road. It sits right across the street from our property, where we both live and work. Conversations with our neighbors confirmed that our barn originally belonged to that farmhouse.

For about two centuries, this was a working farmer’s barn, long before it held flooring tools. That history still shows in the heavy timber frame and the weathered boards inside. We saw value in keeping those pieces intact from day one.

Naming it came easily, so we called it Moon Barn after the farm it was built for.

What We Found Before Our Barn Restoration

Our first step in restoring an old barn like this one was taking stock of its condition. It needed work inside and out.

Climbing vines covered most of one wall, and the white paint had peeled down to bare wood in long strips. Many of the battens, the narrow pieces of wood that cover the seams between siding boards, were missing.

Inside, debris covered nearly every surface. Considering everything that had to be sorted out, cleaning it out took nine 40-yard dumpsters before the real work could begin.

Once everything was cleared away, the second-level floor was the biggest sign of how much work lay ahead. It had warped so badly that none of the boards could be saved, and walking across it became a safety concern.

The floor also sat so low that the first level beneath it had little headroom. Anyone over 5 feet 5 inches could not walk in without ducking. Keeping the frame and siding was an easy call, but that floor had to go.

Restoring the Barn from the Floor Up

We brought in an Amish crew for the structural work. They demolished what remained of the warped second-level floor and cleared the space underneath.

Next, they built a new framing structure 3 feet higher than the original floor. The extra height gave the first level enough headroom to become our shop.

When the framing was done, the crew handed the project back to us. The new structure gave us a solid, level base for installing and finishing the new floor.

Matching the Original Floor with Yellow Pine

We wanted the kind of floor that belongs in a barn this old. To match the original floor, which was too warped to save, we chose southern yellow pine. Each board measures 6 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick, which gives the floor real heft underfoot.

Craig put his flooring skills to work on the new pine floor installation. Before the finish went on, we sanded and buffed the entire floor.

For the finish, we used an oil-based polyurethane. It gave the pale pine a warm amber tone that suits the old beams and walls around it.

The barn also has two platforms. Instead of yellow pine, we covered them in a mix of maple, oak, and cherry. The three species create a patchwork of light and dark tones.

Contrasting wood tones also show up near the front entrance. Just inside the doors, a tumbling-block inlay uses light, medium, and dark diamonds to create the look of stacked cubes.

Repairing the Exterior and Lighting the Space

The siding needed as much attention as the floor did. We completed many repairs across the board-and-batten walls, and Craig installed new battens wherever the old ones were missing.

We also repainted the entire exterior. The walls and metal roof are now black, which gives the old barn a sharp, modern look against the trees. The photos below show the same side of the barn before, during, and after the restoration.

We replaced every window and garage door. Two French doors now serve as the main entrance and bring daylight into the barn.

Inside, we added new electrical along with plenty of lights and fans. String lights now run along the beams and brighten the space at night.

What Restoring This Barn Cost Us

We want to be upfront about the cost of restoring a barn like ours. We easily spent $100,000 on the barn alone.

Our renovation budget covered debris removal, the new floor structure, and the yellow pine. It also went toward siding repairs, paint, windows, doors, and electrical work.

If you are planning to restore a barn of your own, remember that every one is different. Your total will depend on the building’s size and condition. Ours needed nearly everything, from the floor structure to the roof paint.

Hazelwood Floors Headquarters and Moon Barn

The first level now serves as the Hazelwood Floors shop and headquarters. We added a temperature-controlled storage room, painted the walls, and refinished the cement floor. Running our flooring business from a barn we restored feels right, especially one with this much history.

The pine-floored second level now serves as Moon Barn, a place for smaller gatherings. The exposed beams and string lights create a warm setting for a celebration. Some of our best memories have happened in Moon Barn. We’ve hosted:

Craig’s brother’s wedding
Large 4th of July celebrations
Baby showers
Birthday parties

You can find photos and updates on Moon Barn’s Facebook page.

Why We Would Do It All Again

If we could go back, we would not change a thing about this project. We know the work we put in will keep this barn standing for generations. The house on our property went through a full renovation, too. You can read that story in our post about renovating our split-level home.

If you are renovating an older home in the Cleveland area , we would love to help with the floors. We bring the same care to client homes that we brought to Moon Barn. Reach out with questions or comments, and we can talk through your options during a free estimate.

Transformation of a Split-Level Home: Renovation, Restoration, and New Flooring

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 08:47:32 GMT

The split-level house we bought on our 2-acre property was badly run-down. Nearly every room needed work, from the floors to the roof.

As the family behind Hazelwood Floors, we made the property’s old barn our headquarters and the house our home. Since this was where our family would live, every choice felt personal, and we redid the entire house.

That work turned into a split-level home renovation that took about a year. Along the way, we opened up the layout, turned the garage into our kitchen, and laid white oak floors.

Here is how the house changed, from the rooms we started with to the floors we put in.

A Dated Split-Level in Need of Everything

From the start, we knew nothing in the house could stay as it was. The kitchen had older cabinets and dated finishes.

The old enclosed porch, which is now our sunroom, needed just as much work. Its wood walls and windows were showing their age.

So, instead of patching up a few rooms, we decided to start over completely.

Gutting Every Inch, Down to the Studs

The first step was gutting every room in the house. Several walls from the original floor plan came out completely, and we added beams to support a more open layout.

Next, we rebuilt from the inside out. New drywall, insulation, windows, and doors went in throughout the house, along with all-new plumbing and electrical. The insulation and windows also improve energy efficiency by keeping heated and cooled air inside.

Heating and cooling turned out to be one of the bigger challenges. The house needed a brand-new HVAC system, and we had to run many new ducts to make it work. On top of that, we added a tankless water heater, which heats water on demand instead of storing it. Most of this work hides behind the walls, but it is what makes the house comfortable in every season.

The roof brought a challenge of its own. Because the old roof contained asbestos, it had to be removed before a new one could go on. Outside, the brick also needed tuckpointing to repair worn mortar joints.

With the structure rebuilt, we turned our attention to one of the biggest changes of all.

How Our Old Garage Became Our New Kitchen

Instead of updating the original kitchen, we moved it into the 1-car garage. That was one of the bigger jobs in the project, since the space needed all-new plumbing. Fresh brick now closes up the old garage door opening, along with one window.

Accordion patio doors bring natural light into the kitchen and open up views of the backyard and barn. Turning the garage into a kitchen also added usable square footage to the home.

The bathrooms got a refresh, too. We added a full bathroom and renovated the existing one.

Choosing White Oak with Character

For hardwood flooring that suits an old house, we chose solid white oak. White oak is a hard, durable species that holds up well to daily foot traffic.

Each plank is 3/4 inch thick and 6 inches wide. The wider planks show off more of the grain and create fewer seams across each room. We chose character grade, which keeps natural features like knots and color variation.

This grade gives the floor a warmer, lived-in look that suits the architectural style of an older home. Character grade is typically more affordable than higher, more uniform grades. Because the boards are solid hardwood, you can sand and refinish the floor down the road.

For the finish, we used Rubio Monocoat in the color Mud Light. This oil finish soaks into the wood instead of sitting on top, which lets the grain show through. It is also durable enough for a busy family home.

What Old Houses Can Hide Under the Floors

Old houses can hide problems under their floors, such as rot or weak subfloors. Fortunately, ours did not. Once the old flooring came up, we found a very sturdy solid wood subfloor instead of cheap plywood.

That gave us a strong base to build on. A sturdy subfloor helps a hardwood floor stay flat and quiet over time. We then ran white oak across the main floor, through the living area and dining room, and into the sunroom. The staircases are solid hardwood too, while the basement is carpeted.

Our own team handled the hardwood flooring installation, just as we do when clients hire us to install hardwood floors. We prepared the subfloor, then laid and aligned each white oak board. Once the floor was down, we applied the Rubio Monocoat finish to protect the wood from daily wear.

Why This Renovation Meant More to Us

We spend our days working on floors in other people’s homes and businesses. With this house, the finished floors would be ours to live on. Every decision, from the layout to the wood finish, would shape the home our family lives in every day.

The house renovation was a huge undertaking, and it took about a year of steady work. Looking back, we are happy with how every part of it came together.

Today, our kitchen doors look out at the barn that houses our business. Our home and our work now sit on the same property, which makes sharing this story even more meaningful.

Before and After, One Year Later

Seeing the before-and-after photos side by side shows how much the house changed in a year. Here are a few of the biggest transformations.

The garage was stripped to its framing, and our finished kitchen now fills the same spot.

From Garage to Kitchen

The Sunroom

The old enclosed porch is now a bright sunroom with white oak floors.

The Main Floor

Demolition opened up the main floor, and the same space is now finished.

What We Would Tell Anyone Planning a Split-Level Remodel

A few lessons from our flooring work apply to almost any old house renovation. First, check the subfloor before you choose new flooring. We were lucky to find solid wood under ours. A weak or damaged subfloor, however, needs attention before any flooring goes down.

Next, plan the big systems before the finishes. Work like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical is much easier to complete before the floors go in. That way, the finished floors stay protected from heavy work.

Finally, think about how your staircases connect each level. Short flights between levels are one of the unique architectural features of a split-level home. In our home, the steps to the upper level are solid hardwood, just like the floors. For your own split-level, matching the stairs to your floors helps the whole home feel consistent.

From Our Home to Yours

The barn on our property went through a transformation of its own, with a stronger focus on historic preservation. You can read the full story in our post about restoring Moon Barn.

Still, this house is the project we live with every day.

If you are restoring an old house, our Cleveland hardwood flooring team can help choose floors that fit its character. We can check your subfloor, compare wood species and finishes, and plan an install around your renovation. Schedule a free estimate to get started.