What’s next on the horizon for residential architectural styles?
The housing scene has always been filled with many exciting and original design options. From the classic styles of the early Greeks and Romans – and revivals of those styles – to innovative styles like the Craftsman and Arts & Crafts movements, Ranch style, Bauhaus modern, passive-solar design, tract-house split levels, and more recent container homes and pre-fabs, architects and designers continue to seek to push the design envelope. And not too long ago, the Tiny House movement and treehouse rooms were very fashionable.
Today, the barndominium, or “barndo” (similar to a Shouse), is the latest trend to capture the imagination of America’s potential homeowners.
While the barndominium is very much in the spotlight now – thanks in part to an episode of HGTV’s Fixer Upper that featured a barn renovated into a fabulous home – the concept has been around for years. It is a modern twist to the live/work space that was common among the early agricultural families whose small farms had the livestock on the main level and the living/sleeping area on the second floor.
The term actually originated in 1989 when Connecticut real estate developer Karl Nilsen referred to a new planning development that served as living quarters for horses and animal caretakers as a barndominium. Blending the words “barn” and “condominium,” it is exactly what it sounds like: a barn that has been converted into a low-cost living space – or a house plan purposely designed as living space but with barn-like storage and working spaces associated with it.
For those looking for a unique home with plenty of room plus space to work and get dirty, this style might be right up your alley.
Top: Typical of the barndominium design, this attractive two-story barn style home features 1,920 square feet of space to accommodate three bedrooms, three baths, an office, a three-car garage, and a main level spacious enough for boat storage. Middle: The second story has all the living, cooking, and dining spaces, the office, and deck areas. Bottom: On the main level are the garage/shop area, storage space, utility room, storage room for a boat, and covered front and rear porches (Plan #132-1694).
Basically, a large building with enough space for living quarters plus a shop, garage, or work area, a barndominium (like the one in the video below) has the exterior of a traditional pole barn, often with a gambrel roof, and the interior modified as a home – similar to a barn home. Style plans can range from the considerably basic steel structure to more elaborate, intricate, and high-end design options that suit the family’s lifestyle and needs.
Barndominiums can be constructed with many different features. Here are a few that aptly characterizes them:
This modern barn-style home showcases an open concept Great Room highlighted by lots of large glass windows and sliding doors that allow sunlight and the breeze to fill the space. The 3,589-square-foot two-story home features three bedrooms; 3.5 baths; a walkout basement, which can be finished with a potential for a fourth bedroom; covered front and rear porches; a loft; a family room; and other amenities (Plan 3161-1090).
This lovely barndominium style home combines Farmhouse and Dutch Colonial elements - exhibited prominently in the gambrel roof and the inviting covered front porch. Inside the 1.5-story home is a Great Room with a vaulted ceiling, three bedrooms, a sleeping loft, and 3.5 bathrooms (Plan #193-1102).
An airy and sunny loft space in a beautifully designed two-story Transitional Farmhouse style home can also function as a work-study space, a getaway room, entertainment corner, or a yoga-meditation nook. In addition to the amazing loft, the 1,930-square-foot home has an open floor design, three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a covered porch, an expansive Great Room, mudroom, and a main level laundry (Plan #168-1129).
The Fixer Upper episode in 2016 certainly displayed the possibilities and advantages of transforming a barn into a home. Since that time, barndos have become part of the mainstream architectural scene – especially in rural areas – and gained recognition as well as acceptance across diverse demographics.
There are reasons for the popularity.
Some of the elements that make a barndominium attractive also contribute to a few drawbacks.
Like the construction of a traditional house, there are various details and costs to consider before the actual building:
You’ll have to decide early on if you want to go with a steel building or a wood- timber-frame building. Home Advisor notes that at $73,400 to $228,000, a metal barn is cheaper than the $1165,000 to $480,000 price tag to build a wood-frame home.
The cost-per-square-foot of a barndominium ranges from $30-$40 for basic assembly – significantly lower than the $100 to $200 per square foot to build a house. But depending on the design, features, location, and materials selected by the homeowner, the costs can go up to $125 per square foot or even higher.
Below is a table outlining the average cost to build this type of home.
Barndominium Kit |
$20,000-$90,000 |
Clear Land |
$1,300-$4,300 |
Delivery |
$5,000-$15,000 |
Assembly |
$25,000-$50,000 |
Foundation |
$4,000-$12,500 |
Insulation |
$1,100-$2,400 |
Plumbing |
$400-$1,900 |
Sewer/Septic |
$2,000-$9,500 |
Electrical |
$600-$2,200 |
HVAC |
$2,600-$13,500 |
Siding |
$6,000-$16,000 |
Roofing |
$5,400-$10,700 |
|
|
Total |
$73,400-$228,000 |
While the newer designs are more expensive – and elaborate – they continue to maintain the aesthetic of the barn while infusing more contemporary elements.
How long will the barn home continue to ride the wave of its current popularity? Design and architectural experts believe that a barn and a modern home rolled into one will be around for a long time because it offers a unique and innovative alternative to the traditional home styles. The style is also attracting both older and younger buyers, particularly millennials who find the rustic setting of the barndominium life and its modern amenities very appealing.
Should you consider building a barndominium? If you're into trendy and quirky twists that provide a comfortable and warm environment, it may be for you!
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