The “Wow” and the Wonderful
When building a new barndominium, part of the fun is in choosing what goes into your home. You are not stuck with the dark rooms, plain features, and lack of personality so often encountered when house hunting. This home is all about you, and with the freedom born of post-frame or metal framing, you can pretty much do what you want. We are going to look at some of the popular trends and a few that are less common but bring a great wow factor to barndo living.
Popular Features
Open Concept
One of the most sought features in barndos has been the open concept floor plan. Since barndos require no interior load bearing walls, open concepts are easy to achieve. Many people enjoy the freedom and flow of a home that you can walk through without impediment, from dining area to kitchen to living room to family room with few, if any, defining walls.
While the open concept is still very popular, some people are reconsidering just how open their space should be. Some cite issues such as an inability to escape the sound of their children’s television programs throughout the house and sounds can echo in a huge, vaulted space without textiles or anything to absorb sound; others feel that they would prefer not to cook in front of guests, and an office can allow greater concentration if it is sectioned off. A partially open concept is preferable to some people.
Vaulted Ceilings
Another very common feature of a barndominium, these ceilings really add an airy feeling to a home. Often people opt for exposed beams, whether wood or steel, adding a rustic/modern vibe that many people appreciate.
Lofts and Catwalks
Lofts and catwalks remain very much on trend as they make great use of the open, vaulted ceilings. Plus they create space for extra rooms or storage without expanding the structural boundaries of the home yet maintaining the feeling of airiness and great space.
Windows
Another way to enhance the wide-open space is to add many windows; some people even create a wall of windows. This can allow a flood of natural light in the living space, which besides creating a lovely environment may even keep lighting costs down.
Black frames on the windows are very popular; it can add a modern, even industrial touch to the aesthetics.
Fireplaces and Wood Stoves
Fireplaces and wood stoves bring a nice warm functionality to a room, and they deliver drama too. A great example is a stone fireplace that soars two stories up to the vaulted ceiling. Open or floating staircases can also act as focal points.
Materials and Finishes
Materials tend to go in and out of fashion, but here are a few that seem to have some staying power.
Shiplap has been around a while, but it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Instead it seems that the use of shiplap is evolving. Decorators suggest avoiding the usual horizontal shiplap painted white. It looks great run vertically painted a moody shade of blue or rose, and it can look very nice in the natural wood shades.
Concrete floors are common in barndominiums, especially because many of these homes are built on concrete foundations. Polish or stain it and it can double as the floor. Not only is this an enduring floor, but it can also look quite sharp. It is hard, though, so many people complement the floor with rugs to soften the areas in which they do a lot of walking or standing. Rugs can also be part of a plan to reduce noise echo in an open space with many hard surfaces.
Reclaimed wood has been in style for a while, and it continues to be strong in barndominiums for a couple of reasons. Barndominiums are built primarily in the countryside by people who are looking for a lifestyle that incorporates connection with nature, environmentally friendly choices, and perhaps a sense of history and connection; many barndo owners plan to pass the home down through generations. The rustic charm and sense of connection to the past give barndo owners every reason to enjoy reclaimed wood.
As previously mentioned, exposed beams and posts are popular, and they are especially so in the form of rough-cut wood or stained steel beams.
Tech and Modern Touches
There are many features that could go under this section nowadays: smart home systems that can include security, irrigation, energy monitoring, health and wellness tracking, thermostats, entertainment, home appliances, and more.
The most popular seem to be whole home audio systems, Smart lighting with dimmable LEDs and accent uplighting on beams.
Another feature that people find very appealing is a hidden or recessed TV wall; this has been brought about largely by the debate of whether the fireplace or the television should be the focal point of the room. Many people fit a frame style big screen tv into a recess as in a wall-size bookshelf or they create its own space by mounting it in the middle of a wood accent wall or wall section, so it blends in a bit.
Statement Features
To add a wow factor to your home, you might consider these trendy choices.
Divide your open concept living space with sliding barn doors which can be open for the larger space or closed to break up the space. This may help with containing the children’s music.
Another feature that is destined to be popular with outdoor lovers involves creating a flow from indoor to outdoor spaces. Lay out the living space so that patios, decks, firepits, pools, or other inviting outdoor spaces are visible from the indoor living spaces.
Chandeliers with character are in demand. Wagon wheels and industrial cage lighting are often chosen; these tend to enhance agricultural and industrial inspired décor.
Similar to the exposed beams and posts, exposed cathedral trusses are also well liked.
The Big Wow
So far, we have only spoken about popular barndo features, and while they can be fun, functional and even awe-inspiring, how about some more unusual features? We have a few that will really wow you!
Some barndo owners have built and indoor/outdoor swimming pool by building it half in, half out of their home and installing an overhead door that descends and cuts off half the pool. This means that the homeowners can enjoy the indoor pool in privacy and in inclement weather, or they can open the door and enjoy the yard.
Finally a feature that tops all features when it comes to merging indoor and outdoor life, some homeowners incorporated a living tree into their home. It lives in a partially submerged planter incorporated into the cement slab floor and it brings a healthy, green vibe into the home.
We’ve covered a variety of ideas for your barndominium, but don’t feel limited by them. The sky is the limit for your beautiful new home.
