Amazing Barn Conversion

The Jordan family left the city and moved to the country with plans to turn a barn into their dream home. Designer Chip Wade creates a living space for the Jordans –– and their animals.

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November 25, 2014

By: David L. Haynes

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Photo By: Bryan Meltz/ Getty Images

Photo By: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

This Is a Barn?

When the Jordans wanted to turn a working barn into a living space that would accommodate both themselves and their pets and horses, they had trouble finding a contractor willing to take on the project. As seen here, Elbow Room designer Chip Wade was able to make it happen and pull it off with panache.

Barn Exterior

Wayne and Elizabeth Jordan's idea was to renovate this rustic barn where they kept their horses, turning a portion of the interior into their family home. The remainder of the barn would remain a working stable. Renovating the structure, however, proved fraught with challenges. During construction, Wayne and Elizabeth and their two kids lived in a camper nearby.

Blank Slate

Before the renovation, the barn included six horse stalls but was home to only two horses. The structure did come with an existing bathroom and kitchen, but those were strictly no-frills.

Chip and Friend

Enter designer and licensed contractor Chip Wade. Here, Chip is greeted by one of the current residents of the barn that will soon also be home to a few human inhabitants.

Behind the Scenes. In Front of the Pig.

The Elbow Room crew films as Chip is introduced to the Jordan's teacup pig, Pinky.

Before

Since only two of the barn's stalls are in use, the plan is to turn half of the downstairs into a family living space.

After

This newly converted portion of the barn becomes an open area encompassing a kitchen and great room.

Before

Like many traditional barns, this one was laid out along a central breezeway. This portion had stalls on one side and utility space on the other.

After

In the converted space, the barn doors are replaced by a large picture window with a view out onto the woods.

After

A portion of the ground-floor ceiling is removed, opening up the space between the first and second floors.

Before

Two of the stalls are to be removed...

After

...making room for a new entrance, dining area and custom stone fireplace.

Before

The unfinished space on the barn's second floor, before the renovation

After

Removing the first-floor ceiling to open up the space created this incredible two-story space with 30-foot ceilings.

Fit for Man or Beast

The completed great room included this picture window offering a view directly into the stables, creating a unique setting where people and stable inhabitants practically share a common space.

Casual & Comfortable

The newly converted space retains a rustic charm but with clean, simple lines and contemporary furnishings.

Focal Feature

The expansion of the living area to a two-story space offered some amazing opportunities in terms of wall space and visual features. In the most striking example, this huge and fully operational custom wall clock, designed by Chip Wade, becomes the focal piece for the room.

Warm and Earthy

Chip made sure that the modern update didn't sacrifice the barn's rustic and country essence. He stuck with an earth-toned palette to keep the space warm, natural and inviting.

Focus on Utility

This space in the great room offers a convenient work surface along with some display storage for books.

Focus on Utility

The area adjacent to the stairs is accessorized with this three-drawer console and some well coordinated accent pieces.

Unifying Elements

HGTV HOME brand products, like the end table and lamp seen here, were used throughout the living space.

Unifying Elements

Greens were combined with a neutral background palette to provide a natural color accent.

Unifying Elements

HGTV HOME brand furniture, like this bench seat at the dining table, was used in the great room, kitchen and dining areas. Coordinated throw pillows used elsewhere in the space make use of the same pattern as the fabric cover on the bench.

Spacious and Bright

The modern kitchen is ideal for family meals and casual entertaining.

Spacious and Bright

The dark island and countertops, nicely contrasting with the tile backsplash and white custom cabinetry, provide the kitchen with a crisp and clean look.

Kitchen Amenities

Marble tile backsplash in subtly varying shades of grey and white, and this pot-filler faucet, are among the modern features in the new kitchen.

Creative Upcycling

Repurposed hay-rack feeders designed for use in stable stalls are perfect in this context as simple wall-mounted storage baskets.

Creative Upcycling

Sticking with barn and equestrian motifs, a sturdy rope attached to the wall with chrome ring fasteners serves just fine as a stair bannister.

Canine Retreat

The space beneath the stairs is fashioned into a doggie nook for some of the Jordan's more house-friendly four-footed friends.

Attention to Detail

Reclaimed wood planks in a dark stain are used for the stair steps, and a glass partition adds security for the open stair design.

Attention to Detail

The living space is outfitted throughout with dark hardwood flooring in a natural, textured finish.

Attention to Detail

Mirror wall hangings in the stairwell and great room add visual interest and depth.

Attention to Detail

A library ladder aids with accessing the hard-to-reach shelves in the oversized bookshelves and provides a visual tie with the dark wood tones used elsewhere.

Attention to Detail

This simple metal chandelier, suspended with rope and industrial hardware, is well matched with the stone backdrop in the casual dining space.

Attention to Detail

Books, a few accent pieces and original painting help complete this corner space in the great room.

Attention to Detail

An oversized ottoman doubles as tabletop in the great room's main seating area.

The Big Picture

"Rustic but refined" is how designer Chip Wade characterizes the finished living area in the converted barn. The scale and openness of the space make for a casual but markedly distinct setting.

Grand Design

The kitchen island provides a gathering spot on the main floor while the built-in bookshelves and massive wall clock draw focus to the second level.

Bird's Eye View

In the end, the homeowners describe the finished space as having a vacation-home feel.

Time Well Spent

Chip and Wayne get an up-close look at the massive wall clock custom made by Chip.

Happy Endings

Designer Chip Wade with homeowners Wayne and Elizabeth Jordan in their newly completed converted barn

Elbow Room

Amazing Barn Conversion

Related To:

Shop This Look

This Is a Barn?

Barn Exterior

Blank Slate

Chip and Friend

Behind the Scenes. In Front of the Pig.

Before

After

Before

After

After

Before

After

Before

After

Fit for Man or Beast

Casual & Comfortable

Focal Feature

Warm and Earthy

Focus on Utility

Focus on Utility

Unifying Elements

Unifying Elements

Unifying Elements

Spacious and Bright

Spacious and Bright

Kitchen Amenities

Creative Upcycling

Creative Upcycling

Canine Retreat

Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

The Big Picture

Grand Design

Bird's Eye View

Time Well Spent

Happy Endings

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