Ask Veronica: What’s a barndominium?

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about barndominiums on social media. What are they and what makes them so popular? —Jim J. St. Louis 

Barry Kraft and his team at Reclaim Renew are best known for their custom-designed barnwood furniture, cabinets, and wallboard. As of late, however, they’ve been sharing social media updates about a project in Monroe County, Illinois—a recently completed 6,200-square-foot barndominium.

courtesy of Reclaim Renew

courtesy of Reclaim Renew

So what, exactly, is a barndominium?

A barndominium, says Kraft, is a combination work/live space with a barn-like exterior appearance that can be as simple or as detailed as the client wishes. “Some people would say that they have to be built like a pole barn, or some people would say they have to have a metal exterior, but we’ve taken a little bit of a different approach. We can build them to look like a house but with the appearance of a barn,” he says.

The Illinois project, for example, features a three-sided porch and multiple cupolas. “Taking big open spaces and turning them into usable space is what I think defines them,” he says.

Kraft uses standard wood frame construction on his projects. Doing so, he says, makes it easier to finish the interiors and insure the property. “The homes are very efficient. With it being on slab there’s not a big basement you have to heat or cool. They’re easy to clean. We like the practical nature of them.”

Instead of formal dining rooms or living rooms, barndominiums often feature open-floor plans. “We try to maximize every square inch to be a usable,” says Kraft, noting that the sweet spot in terms of size is somewhere between 1,700 and 2,000 square feet. Smaller barndominiums are typically used as guest houses or car garages. “Not many people are willing to commit to living in less than 1000 square feet, but people are committed to simplifying their life and having an efficient home. Barndominiums are a great way to do that.”