Without really ever intending to do so, I think we are somehow smack in the middle of building our very first barndominium ever. And it’s safe to say, we couldn’t be more excited!
***(Be sure to check out our free pdf download link of the plan near the end of the article. The plan includes the layout, measurements and elevation drawings all to scale!)
When we first purchased the land for our new farm a year ago, we began to think long and hard about what type of dwelling we wanted to create for our final home. Knowing that it would be our forever place, it was certainly important to get the design to fit our wants and needs.
There were definitely things we knew we wanted right from the beginning. For starters, we wanted to have plenty of open space for entertaining and hosting events inside. In addition, it also had to be low-maintenance, energy efficient, and, of course, affordable to build.
Last but not least, the building (or “The Lodge” as we have come to now affectionately call it), had to look like it belonged on a farm. And, for us, there was no better way to do that than making sure it had the look, feel and charm of a classic barn.
Creating The “Lodge” – Building A Barndominium
We have both always loved the look and feel of vintage barns. Especially when it comes to the classic style of a traditional horse barn with adjoining lean-to’s.
For keeping horses, the lean-to is an incredibly efficient design. The lean-to wings create space for the horses stalls and tack room, all while keeping the main area open for a show or working space.
But it just so happens, that exact design is also absolutely ideal for creating an incredible living space. One that is spacious and open in the middle, with plenty of area on the wings for an adjoining kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and more.
The Vision Comes To Life – Building A Barndominium
With that exact vision in mind, we headed to our forever friends at Weaver Barns to put the dream down on paper. Weaver not only designed and built our “Simple House” at our first farm, but many of our cabins and outbuildings here on the new farm as well.
One of the biggest keys to success in any building project is to surround yourself with talented people and then let them do what they do best. And when it comes to the final design of the barndominium, Weaver Barns knocked it out of the park! See: Weaver Barns Website & Projects
It’s funny, but building a barndominium never crossed our minds. It certainly wasn’t something we set out to do. But after listening to all of our ideas and wishes for the space, that is exactly what Weaver designed for the project. And to say we fell in love with it right away would be the understatement of the year!
Creating A Barndominium
The word barndominium is made up of two simple words – a barn, and condominium. The concept originated when folks started to turn old barns into beautiful living quarters.
But from there, the entire idea has simply exploded to include creating all types of barns into living spaces – old and new. One thing is for sure, Weaver’s design for “The Lodge” puts the barndominium style front and center!
The Floor Plan – How To Build A Barndominium
The floor plan of “The Lodge” really is an extension of our old “Simple House” floor plan. We loved the main great room area of that home with its vaulted ceilings. It made the space feel so much bigger than it really was, and we wanted to have the same effect in the barndominium.
Although it will double as our living quarters, we will also be hosting garden and farm events in it as well. In fact, the very first event it will ever host is the wedding next fall of our daughter!
For that very reason, it was important to have the main area wide open. With the staircase leading to the loft area above, it certainly gives us a large enough space to hold events.
The “Wings” Of The House
At the same time, we wanted to also be able to have the living quarters be close, but tucked out of the way. Each side wing of the house works perfectly for this function.
The left wing of the Lodge holds two bedrooms and two full bathrooms. With a lock of one door, it can close off most of the living quarters, all while leaving the bathrooms for use for an event.
The right side holds the kitchen, pantry, a half bath and back porch area. We loved the way the kitchen opened up to the main room in our old farmhouse, and kept the same concept here as well. It just makes the flow and being a part of the action all possible from the kitchen.
Download The Plans For The OWG Lodge Barndominium Below. Once you hit the button, check your downloads file on your computer to access.
Keeping It All Low Maintenance
You may recall at the beginning of the article we talked about wanting to create a low-maintenance home. With both of us now into our early 50’s, we know it’s important to create an easy care home for our future.
One that requires little future painting and staining, and uses long-lasting materials that will hold up to the test of time. We also wanted it to be 100% wheelchair accessible with wide doors and flat entry ways.
With that in mind, here are some of our favorite features of the design:
The Lodge – How To Build A Barndominium
Dry Stack Stone Veneer Foundation
- Zero maintenance
- Dresses up the bottom of the “barn” for a more classic look and feel
Textured Board & Batten Metal Siding
- Zero maintenance
- 50 year warranty
- Textured board and batten material creates a more “barn-like” feel than traditional straight metal siding
Radiant Floor Heat / On Demand Gas Water Heater –
- An incredibly efficient way to heat a house
- No furnace or duct work required – huge up-front savings
- Energy efficient, on-demand gas heating unit also doubles as our hot water heater
Concrete Acid Stained Floors –
- Will give a marble tile look when stained (made with slight saw cuts for pattern)
- Floors are low maintenance, require only an occasional seal coat for shine
- durable, easy to clean and nearly impossible to damage
Split AC Unit
- Energy efficient and zoned to the house areas for temperature control and savings
- eliminates the need for duct work
- No need for a central air conditioning unit
Metal Ceilings:
Just as with our first farmhouse (below), we are using galvanized panels for the main ceiling. Not only do they give a unique look to the interior, they are also completely maintenance free. That means no painting ever – and dusting is easy as wiping it off with a pole and a dust pad.
Construction Timeline – Building A Barndominium
Progress is well under way on the barndominium. The ground was scraped off in late October, and the foundation and plumbing rough ins are now all in place. The radiant floor tubing goes in next, and weather permitting, we hope to pour the floors by Christmas!
Once that occurs, the Weaver Barns’ crew will take over, and the house will begin to take shape. We are certainly hoping to get the gutter cleaners in for the finishing touches and have it all ready by late spring. We will be sure to have an update when complete, including a walk through video.
Here is to the barndominium build and the new farm taking shape! – Jim & Mary.
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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