One of the guilty pleasures in which we indulge at OR is the insatiable, late-night pursuit of barn-style homes online. It may seem oddly redundant to lust after the characteristics of the very structure in which we already spend a considerable amount of laborious time, and identify as the cause of aching body parts, incessant bills, and charismatic dependents chiding one another with funny business (sounds strikingly familiar to any family-filled home). However cliché our obsession with living in a barn-inspired abode may be, one cannot argue with the aesthetic’s worn-in context, genuine warmth, spacious design, and the constant reminder of our tireless devotion to our unconditional love(s).
Because we occasionally muse on the idea of converting a neglected old gambrel barn into a modern home — exposed beams, stone surfaces, intentionally battered details, pitched roof lines, sliding rail doors, and windows with a generous view of occupied pastures — we have spent some time trolling the interwebs for inspiration, and highlighted a few choice builds. Some are literal interpretations, while others mix subtle hints with contemporary engineering. No matter one’s preference, we believe the loving restoration of our favorite agricultural icon has achieved the greatest success when a passerby must wonder, “Is that a barn? Or is it a house?”
Mission accomplished.
