This is the week, everyone! The barn renovation is starting, and you can feel the excitement and nervous anticipation in the air.
Neither my not I have ever done anything so big or so complicated. To date, the inside farmhouse renovation is the largest renovation we’ve ever done. Without trying to be overly confident, it was fairly easy. We had a great contractor and team who helped us each step of the way and they will be with us again as we take on the barn and convert it to a barndominium.
But what exactly are we doing in there to make a barndominium?
Well, our barn is weird. It’s lopsided. A few owners ago, (maybe 3?) they decided to big the barn on top of the partially existing garage.
The issue
Well the problem is that the garage is now falling down and in disrepair…or at least part of it is.
We don’t know exactly how old either structure is but a portion of the garage is closer to the original age of the 1900 farmhouse than the barn and a subsequent garage addition.
It’s that part then is starting to collapse.
In purchasing the farmhouse the inspector told us that we would eventually have to replace that part of the wall in the garage. Looking at it closer we decided that the garage wasn’t worth saving and we wanted to do a full barn renovation instead. It has some major holes that are constant doorways for mice and other pests (to the point where I decided I couldn’t even put the chickens in the garage), and the structure hadn’t been graded correctly so when it rains the water all pools at one side of the garage. Living in Michigan, that water tends to freeze right up at least half the year and then the garage door is stuck shut.
Not to mention, the roofing needs to be replaced on it and there is a creepy second room above it that I’m sure is how to creatures I never want to meet.
Basically, it’s a dark, dank place that is fine is fine for covering outdoor items, but not functional when you really get down to it. The barn renovation will completely change that.
Additionally, my husband wants to brew beer out there and since I do so much cooking for my other blog (and hopefully soon over here), I’m a pretty big stickler when it comes to working in sanitary conditions. Mice and sanitary are two words that will never go together.
Current Inside: Before the Barn renovation
The Barndominium Plans
So here we are. It’s time to make this barn a place that will function for us on multiple levels with our barn renovation. The plans include:
Build a second support wall for the barn and even it out so it’s symmetrical.
In doing this, half the space that the garage now sits on will be part of the patio and half will become a new indoor space that will include an entertaining area, a kitchen and a brew space for my husband.
The barn itself also has a second story, which functions currently as storage. It’s actually a decent room and a place my husband considered having his office. However, that space is now going to become a living room, bedroom and bathroom for guests. (See it HERE!)There will be stairs from the kitchen and dining area on the main level that lead to the second story. We will also be adding windows and skylights in the space so it’s not a dark cave for our guests.
Along with the rest of the barn renovation, there will be central air and heat in bedroom, bathroom and living areas of the barn.
As for the brew space, it will have a sink and power so Kevin can make his beer brew-y dreams come true. He’s taken care of us so well and for so long and never asks for much. He deserves it so I’m excited we can make this happen for him.
Outside for the barn renovation
Outside, that new patio space we gained will be combined with the old patio space to make a massive area for outdoor entertaining. There will be French doors that open from the kitchen on the first floor to the patio and we will be stamping the concrete, so it creates a stone-like effect. We had stamped concrete in our old house and I really liked the look along with the fact that it requires minimal care.
We are expanding the driveway so it runs along the two garage doors in the current barn so we can both park in that space and have a space to turn the cars around easily without driving in my grass.
Lastly, I’m hoping we can do some lighting on the exterior and at least paint the barn garage doors, In a perfect world, I’d like to get new garage doors but as long as we can even them out and have them function properly then I’m ok with painting them…for now. They are overly large so I don’t have any clue on price for new doors. I’m also a bit scared to look.
All of this will still give us place for our cars and it will also still give is the large workshop area at the back of the barn.
Odds and ends
We do need to figure out where we will store things like the lawn mower and bikes after the barn renovation. Right now we were thinking the little barn on our property but that’s even scarier than the main barn so we will see. The larger problem is that structurally, that barn was built for a couple of horses so there is a wall down the middle of it, splitting the space.
So, what do you think of the plans? Check out the photos we submitted to the city for the barndominium below.
I’ll be showing you daily updates and happenings on my Instagram accounts @sugarmaplefarmhouse and @rachelquenzer. I hope you’ll follow along with us as we go on this journey!
FIRST FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
Thanks so much for coming to see our barn renovation plans today, friends! Here’s a little look at the space now!
Kitchen space {HERE} and check it out on our YouTube Channel in my cooking videos {HERE}!
A little of our upstairs progress {HERE}!
See the Christmas decor our first year {HERE}!
And the guest space {HERE}!
Lastly, {HERE} is the sitting space!
I think it’s going to be super nice when it’s done. I can’t wait to see the finished product.
that place has amazing bones. I can’t wait to see how it goes!
How cool! It’s going to look awesome and cozy when it’s done. I can’t wait to see it.
I want my own barn and farm so a house like this is a dream of mine. I love what you have done so far and it has so much potential
I’m really liking the plans for all of the space. This should be a really satisfying project to work on!
Your plans are amazing! Looking forward to seeing the transformation of this space. The layout looks really cool.
What an amazing project you are undertaking! I love the concept. I think your vision is inspired.
I love your plans. They are super ambitious but that’s what I love. Your details are thorough. Cannot wait to follow you on this journey.
You are blessed to have such a nice piece of property! This barn is going to be such a blast!
That looks beautiful! I would love to have something like this at my house! I love barns anyway and this is just icing on the cake!
we have talked about moving to a farm one day. I am not sure it is the thing to do when we retire.
Wow!!! This sounds amazing! It would be great to have all this extra space! Cannot wait to see the finish project!
What a fun project! I kind of laughed at that side view – what is going ob with the roof lol? I like the plan, and it will be cool to see the process and of course, the finished project.
We looked at a barndominion for our big family! Excited to follow your progress and how everything comes together
This is such a cool project! I can’t wait to see it when it’s all finished! Your farm is turning into quite a welcoming retreat!
Looks like it is going to be AMAZING! I can’t wait to see it when it is done.
I am so excited for you! I can see how great it will turn out and I really can’t wait!
I love how modern and elegant this new barn is! Thanks for all helpful tips!
This sounds like an exciting renovation project. I love what you have in plan, the designs you’ve got drawn up look fantastic. I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished x
That is a beautiful barn!!! I love all that you’re doing on your farm.
How exciting! I can’t wait to see the ‘after’ and how you would decorate it. Good luck and have fun!
It’s already cute on the outside, I can’t wait to see what the inside looks like after you finished! That’s a pretty big project, I feel tired just thinking about it ha ha.
Wow. That is so amazing. I can’t wait to see photos once it’s finished. I think it will be a great place!
WOW! Your farmhouse barndominium barn renovation looks AMAZING! What an amazing idea and great place to hang out once it is done! I can’t wait to see the process!
wow what a fantastic renovation. Some of the before pictures look a little ominous. I bet it will be beautiful when you are finished.
I can’t wait to see how this project goes and how pretty it would look once finished. I even like the term “Barndominium.” That is so cool!
What an exciting project! I love the details of your plans. It looks like it will be quite an adventure!
This is such a great product! Your floors looks amazing!
Wow! What an exciting adventure! The plans look amazing and my husband would be so jealous of your brewery! I can’t wait to watch your progress in action!
Patience. Hang in there. Your final designs look amazing. Just breathe through the process and you’ll soon be living in your dream “Barndominium.”
This is really cool I love that you guys are upgrading the farm house nicely. Look forward to see the final picture.
Looks amazing. Can’t wait to follow along and see the finished product.
This farmhouse is so beautiful. I love how modern and chic it is at the same time.
I honestly can’t wait to see how it turns out. I love the hybrid barn and condominium combination, never heard of that before.
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