Monday, June 23, 2008

come on in...

I'd like to welcome you into my mother's barn and share some of its history and what makes it so special. My mother has never owned a home... until now. Two years ago, she bought this little barn (just over 1000 sq. feet) built in 1888 a couple miles away from me. It had been originally inhabited by farm animals on the main floor, and hay in the loft upstairs. There was no running water, heat, or electricity and it stood on 4 cement blocks instead of a solid foundation... birds swooped in and out of the broken windows...raccoons/squirrels/mice had been nesting in the walls for decades. The floor where the animals had stood in their feeding stall was completely rotted out, the hole, covered by an old door. Despite its age, everyone from structural inspectors to contracters, marveled at how solid and well-crafted it was. We were all excited by its potential. My mother, being the brave, daring pioneer that she is, knew this was home. Her vision was to convert the barn into a live/work art studio and make it as GREEN as her budget would allow... recycle, repurpose, reinvent was our guiding motto. All flooring is original wood planks, with the exception of the bathroom and a small area in the kitchen, covered in retro linseed-based linoleum. The top photo is a view of the main room from the front door. We had just brought in a few random chairs and stools from her metal chair collection. When the exterior wall was cut for French doors, we brought in the "cut-out" and used it as housing for the staircase (white-washed) and kept the floor beams overhead exposed. I will have many more photos to share as she moves in over the next few weeks. These are from our first day...this is the soundtrack my mother put on for our first few minutes:)

Here are the steps going to the upstairs art studio, formerly the hayloft...note the industrial influence with the corrugated metal and stainless steel fan from The Modern Fan Company.

Here's a portion of the almost empty studio...many new windows let in natural light, as well as the vintage shop lights...the huge maple tree outside makes you feel like you're in a tree house.

Old hot-water radiators are combined with a small and efficient European boiler, by Baxi.
Vintage cooler will make a great compost recptacle.
An antique porch glider will be brought inside to be used as a couch...

So until the next barn post...


...I'll be back soon with more fun summer activities to do with your children! Pin It

20 comments:

  1. WOW, that's all I can say, WOW! The barn is perfect, and you both seem to have thought of every little detail. What a great collaboration!

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  2. Oh my gosh. This is as fun as I had hoped it would be. Your Mom is so cool!

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  3. I'm sorry, but we won't allow you to post anything else except for details about the barn! %>

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  4. I can't wait to see more! MORE, MORE, MORE!!!! I bet y'all are having so much fun. Being creative and spending time together!

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  5. Your mom's barn/home is so beautiful I want to move in . The only thing I would really miss here is my wrap around porch. You mom is a very creative talented person just like you. Look forward to seeing and hearing more barn updates.

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  6. What a fresh and beautiful work and living space! Its fantastic.

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  7. Thanks so much for all your enthusiasm...we are definitely at the fun part now!

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  8. Going ga-ga over Mom's barn! SO COOL!

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  9. I'm with Lora....more pretty please...this is oh so fabulous...I love how you guys are keeping true to the characteristics of the barn with the fan and railing....Can't wait for more!

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  10. Stunning transformation!!! May God bless your mom with many happy, healthy years in her new home. :)

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  11. wonderful in every way...I wish my mom lived in a barn a couple of miles away.

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  12. Oh my... That is all sooo beautiful! I would like to live in there too!!

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  13. This is amazing and so inspiring! So glad I found your blog (via Bliss!)

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  14. i've never owned a home either, but always dreamed of it. this is so beautiful and incredibly inspiring! thanks :)

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  15. This is just plain beautiful!

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  16. i'm so amazed and impressed and am glad there are people like your mom in the world.

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  17. Thanks again for all the wonderful thoughts shared about the barn and my mother!

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  18. Fantastic! I love the white and the wood and the light and the metal. This looks like the kind of place where a happy life will be lived.

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  19. Wow! I can hardly wait to see more photos, the reno and the building are totally amazing!

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