What We’re All About
WORK HARD
Mark learned about hard work at a young age. His father would work multiple jobs, simultaneously, and Mark would often be found working alongside. Mark was the first of his family to attend college. In order to make this happen, he worked long hours underground, working in coal mines. He saved enough for his first year’s tuition and then returned to the mines to work towards the next year and continued this cycle until he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from West Virginia University. Mark’s strong work ethic and drive to succeed carries through in everything he does.
Be Kind
At Barnwood Living, we strongly believe that our success is due to our supportive fans and our caring communities. We try to give back, every chance we get, to both. We stay true to who we are and recognize that kindness goes a long way. Connecting with others and building meaningful relationships are the bedrock of any successful endeavor. Helping each other grow is part of who we are and we try to demonstrate our values in everything we do.
TAKE PRIDE
Mark has said, “If you don’t take pride in it, what’s the sense of doing it? If you sell or service something, then you need to own it.” To Mark, “pride” means strong ties to family and friends, a willingness to work hard, and personifying traits such as determination and resilience. He proudly identifies as a “hillbilly.” To him, the word doesn’t hold a negative connotation, rather it represents someone coming from a rural area and who connects with a simpler time.
LIVING IN THE PAST, TODAY
Mark, his crew, and Barnwood Living embrace the past and celebrate history, its lessons and stories. We bring the style, ideas, and structures from bygone days to the present – retaining integrity and putting a modern twist on the elements. In doing so, we integrate these attributes in everything we do:
HARD WORK
We are proud of the diligent and intelligent efforts we put forth in everything we do. All of our success comes from the passion we have and time we put it to finish our jobs with maximum efficiency and quality results.
ACCEPTANCE
We have never met a stranger. We embrace anyone and anything that comes our way and strive to learn from each encounter. Rather than staring at a locked door, we look around for an open window.
HANDMADE
When something is handmade, it’s made from the heart. Most of the time, handmade items are more sustainable and are of better quality than products that are mass-produced. They are more environmentally sustainable, create jobs, and support a tradition of skilled work.
RESCUING
The logs and structures that we find and rescue still have so much life in them and long for their history and new stories to be told through them. Using rescued materials saves natural resources and protects the environment. Plus, they look really cool!
KINDNESS
Saying “hello” to a stranger, giving someone an honest compliment, helping someone carry their load, celebrating others’ successes – these acts make a difference to both individuals and society, as a whole. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind. Be kind to others and be kind to yourself.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Craftsmanship is valuable because it is hard-earned. It does not appear by a simple push of a button. True craftsmanship comes from working with others to achieve optimal outcomes and keeps cultural skills alive.
COLLABORATIONS
Collaborations create inventiveness and efficiency. When you work on a common goal with others, creative expertise is shared to benefit the end result. Working with others builds relationships and new channels of communication.
FUN
Having fun makes you feel good! It boosts creativity, energy, and creativity and also makes you healthier! We try to have fun in everything we do because you’re never too old to have a good time!