This beautiful timber frame barn house is the work of Whitten Architects, nestled next to rich conservation land just outside of the downtown of Freeport, Maine. The homeowners were inspired by this property, one has an eye for landscape design, while the other saw plenty of potential in a two-story existing barn on the site.
The architects, tasked with undertaking the design of a substantial barn renovation, created an addition to accommodate first-floor living. The challenge was to maintain the rustic integrity of the barn while providing bright spaces in which to live. The site-specific plan organization continuously focuses on the inhabitants’ eye to the carefully considered landscape that showcases the talents of the homeowner.
Collaborators: Architect: Whitten Architects | General Contractor: Steve Brann Building & Remodeling | Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates | Landscape Design: Tide Walk Designs | Stone Mason: Exterior Hardscape & Stone Walls – George Couture
The restrained interior, and its limited color palette, highlight the natural wood and daylighting while providing a delicate backdrop for the owners’ plentiful art collection and furnishings. The farmhouse like addition is right at home in the Maine landscape with its contextually appropriate materials: metal roofing, a brick chimney, and our take on board and batten siding.
Above: The entry into the home features a mahogany door by Rogue Valley Door. The decking is also mahogany. The light fixture is from Restoration Hardware.
Above: The fixtures in the front entry hall are from Restoration Hardware.
Cost considerations drove several mindful strategies including; a roof truss system, oversized but standard window units, blending of semi-custom and custom millwork, and sourcing local materials including reclaimed marble. The solar panels and the high-performance envelope speak to the homeowner’s commitment to a sustainable lifestyle and to their property as a lifetime dwelling.
Above: This stove is imported from Europe by Wittus Fire By Design.
What We Love: This timber frame barn house offers its inhabitants an exquisite blend of new with old. We are loving how an old barn has been repurposed into a habitable home. The new 900 square foot addition provides additional space to live comfortably while enjoying the tranquility of the surrounding countryside setting. Overall, a beautiful home that is warm, inviting and timeless.
Tell Us: What do you think of this barn/addition project? If this was your home, are there any additional details that you would include in the overall design? Let us know in the Comments!
Note: Have a look at a couple of our most popular home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of the architects of this project, Whitten Architects: Dreamy seaside getaway on a small island off the coast of Maine and Modernized farmhouse provides camp-like refuge on Maine’s jagged coast.
Above: In the kitchen is a soapstone sink that the homeowner found at a local salvage yard and had refurbished. The countertops and backsplash are reclaimed gray Carrera marble.
Above: The floors are a “Rustic Grade” – White Oak.
Above: In the bathroom, the tub is a Kohler “Tea for Two – K850” and the tub filler is a “Rohl – Modern Architectural Tub Filler” in polished nickel.
Above: The wood beams are part of the existing barn. The architects used locally sourced hemlock in the addition.
Above: The sconces above the vanity are the 20TH C. Factory Filament Glass Dome Sconce from Restoration Hardware.
Above: The door and window manufacturer specified was Andersen.
Above: The pre-finished vertical boards are from Maibec. The color is their standard “Maibec White”.
Above: This project involved the renovation of an existing barn/studio that already had a standing seam metal roof in-place. For the 900 square foot addition, the architects requested that the new roof match the color of the old roof. This is a close match to Englert’s “Charcoal Gray” color.
Photos: Jonathan Reece Photography
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