Barn Design Ideas

My barn building plans are already on a temporary hold, because a property came up for sale recently that might work for living, commuting, and horses. (and because maybe I need to examine the fact that I am still actively perusing real estate listings after I supposedly decided for once and for all I was building on our existing little property)

The good news is that I am not as flaky as I might seem, given I have at least got the appropriate approvals from the bank for whatever (modest) horse keeping future I choose. Add that to my monthly list of small wins?

Anyway, despite not having a hard idea of the whens and wheres, I do have a pretty solid idea of what I want to build.

The footprint will likely be between 24x24 and 36x36. Our smaller property is fairly limited due to land size and bylaws and would be closer to the 24x24 footprint. For the smaller one, I'm finding quite a bit of inspiration from carriage house designs, especially given that a future conversion to garage with suite above wouldn't be out of the question and would be smart planning for future renting or resale. Plus, there is already an old outbuilding on site for storage so we don't need to worry about haylofts or anything like that...just a place for some tack and two horses (or maybe a car and two horses)!

Apologies in advance for not linking the source to the pictures that are not mine. They've been living in an ideas folder on my computer for years. After some googling in an attempt to rectify my rudeness in not crediting them,  I'm pretty sure every one of them is all over the internet and finding the original source isn't something I can do.

A style similar to this would be nice if we pretend the back of it is just a plain wall with doors for 2 in/out horse stalls!

Because this is the circa 1912 house already there (world's worst pic, literally stolen from street view) I don't want to make the very nice tenant we have nervous by walking around taking pictures just for my blog lol

Proposed site layout.

So cute, but I suspect it might be over the height restrictions for outbuildings in the city. Saving it for an idea on on bigger property.

This little drawing has potential.

So, with all that, here's what I came up with. It's just my attempt using SketchUp and has yet to be properly drafted or approved for a permit, but it should meet the city's requirements for style, size, and height:

Stairs to loft where the person is standing. As a garage, secure parking for 1 vehicle in bay behind the door, open covered parking in second bay by removing the gate in the middle. To the right, an 8x16 workshop for tools, lawn equipment, etc. As a barn: 12x24 run in on the left, single 12x12 stall in middle back with 12x12 grooming and cross tie area in front, and a tack room to the side. Paddocks off stalls are behind the building. I wanted to keep part of it open as a barn because the climate here is such that I can get away with it and extra light and fresh air is always a nice thing. My artistic skills are limited so you have to imagine fit and finish is such that it would match the existing house, just with a bit more modern twist.

Back view. You have to use your imagination that the white boxes with x's are doors and gates and that there will be gutters and siding and all the normal things you'd expect on a building :)

On a bigger place I might be tempted to build something more traditional and extend a roofline for additional shelter on one side of the building, and maybe incorporate a laundry/washroom. Obviously a bigger property would have a barn that is strictly a barn :)  Elements of the following appeal to me:

Love the windows and the size, less crazy about how visually tall the front looks.

This is way over the top, but I like how the height of it scales better - the dormers and main entry gable break it all up a bit. 

More like it. My dream barn would look a lot like this.

Other inspiration:

Again, over the top for my budget, but the idea of the wood paneling where it's needed and then drywall above is a good one, I think. I like how it brightens it up and would allow for some future changing color choices. I feel like this would be a fairly inexpensive DIY with a fancy looking result. Built in cabinetry...also a want, but a cabinet maker is not in my budget or talent, so more likely I'll be reusing and adapting things myself.

                     

   Something like this door would be a nice compromise between potential barn aisle and garage door use. 

Wood ceilings...I like. I'd just have half doors, though...I'd never have more than 2 or 3 horses and I'd like them to be able to sniff noses and hang out.

Screen cap from...somewhere? I really like the window above the door and coincidentally have a few like it since I saved the original windows from the house when we upgraded them.

Or you could have a window IN the door? Honestly for exterior though I am leaning towards a solid sliding door...maybe it's just me (or Bridget's big itchy butt) but the hinges on swinging doors never seem to last and are always that tiny bit out of adjustment.

So, there you go...now I just wait and see what the future and a lot of hard work brings me and my meager budget :)