House Design

Common in colonial times, lath walls are now almost completely obsolete. But weve noticed that this antiquated building material is experiencing a resurgence—not in construction, but as décor. Tara Mangini and Percy Bright of Jersey Ice Cream Co. have discovered all kinds of ingenious applications for these salvaged planks. During their recent home renovation, the couple employed recycled lath to turn a ho-hum wall in their guest room into a striking conversation piece. The rich texture and warm patina of the paneling gives the room a cozy, rustic feel. And your guests will rest assured know you’re helping the environment.

Or, if you live in the Philly area, you could hire Tara and Percy to do it for you; go to Jersey Ice Cream Co. For a sampling of Tara and Percy’s lath home goods, visit Designskool.

To recreate this look in your home, follow Tara and Percy’s simple instructions below. 1. Get your hands on some lath. Sadly, most people usually throw lathe away, so keep your eyes peeled for demolitions and renovations. A wanted ad on Craigslist might do the trick. Lathe comes in 4-foot lengths, so youll need at least two pieces per square foot. No need to prep the wall; lathe covers a multitude of sins. But do snap a chalk line every 1 to 2 feet to keep things level as you go.

2. Using a brad nailgun or small finishing nails and a hammer, start hanging the lath one row at a time, cutting to length as needed and taking care to stagger the seams.

3. Continue until completion.

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