A Contemporary Barn Home Farmhouse Progresses
In a previous post, Follow A Contemporary Barn-Style Farmhouse As It Goes From Design To Completion, I promised to keep you updated on the construction process of this house. As of last week, we find the house has left the drawing board, gone through the building of its components in the Yankee Barn Homes factory, and has arrived on-site in the state of Connecticut. Not only arrived, but is in the process of going up. In this post we’ll take a look at how the building is progressing, as well as the floor plans, so you might better understand the end result. It’s going to be quite special, indeed. First – the floor plans: 
Now let’s take a look at how these plans are transforming into the real thing! Intending to be have a contemporary look and feel, the exterior of the farmhouse is already looking fantastic (and all we’re seeing at this point is the “house wrap”, intended as a barrier against air infiltration). 
Here, we’re looking at the dining room windows and the beginnings of the master bedroom ell.
To the left of the dining room windows is where the media room will be located.
A full shed dormer and bump-out breakfast nook adorn the back side of the home. No connector or carriage barn with guest quarters yet, but we can see the foundation has been poured (in the fore ground of this picture), so we know it’s coming soon!
The beginnings of a contemporary post & beam farmhouse take shape.
From the corner of the pool area, you can already tell this house is going to be spectacular. I can not wait to see it completed!
On the interior, the frame is not only visible but actually commands attention, even amongst all the chaos of construction. 
Above is a peek at what will soon be the upper balcony, open to the great room below, along with a guest bath and guest bedrooms. The front left corner seen in this picture will eventually be an office which will have an open view of the great room.
Within a matter of months, this site will go from “construction” to one of occupied home. Check back soon, as I will be posting on this Yankee Barn Homes post & beam farmhouse again, once the exterior and interiors are completed. I can not wait to see this house when it’s finished, as it’s already looking like one spectacular barn home to me!
5 Reasons Why Barn Homes are THE BEST!!!!!
I know what you’re thinking, “she wouldn’t be the managing editor and major contributor to Post & Beam Living if she didn’t believe barn homes were the best”, but they really are, and here’s my proof:
1. A Vast Array of Exterior Styles One might think in order to be a barn home, a structure has to look like a barn – Not True! The following pictures are all barn homes. 
2. Gorgeous Interior Exposed Post & Beam Frames In a timber frame home, the post & beam structure takes center stage, but this is not to say it will overpower a decor choice. Just the opposite, actually. A post & beam home gracefully accentuates any interior decorating style. 
3. Open Expanses Because the post & beam frame serves as the “internal support skeleton” of the home, walls can be placed (or not) wherever the homeowner desires. This allows for beautifully lofted spaces and soaring cathedral ceilings. 
4. Site Adaptability No matter the location or look of a site, a barn home has the uncanny ability to unify the terrain and structure into one complete setting. Bucolic is a word which often comes to mind upon viewing these barn homes. 
5. Unique Niche Areas One of my favorite aspects of living in a barn home (many of you may already know I live in a stunning Yankee Barn Homes carriage house) are the different niche areas the post & beam frame creates. Some are larger, others are more a vignette than an actual room. It doesn’t matter, they are all unique and special. 
Post & Beam Living Inspirations
Every once in awhile I come across a new post and beam home or barn that has a certain something. It can be as small as a cupola or as all-encompassing as the structure itself. Whenever I make these discoveries, I place the picture in an “Inspirations” folder. Every now and again, I go through the folder and weed out the pictures that were a “flash-in-the-pan”, while keeping those which continue to intrigue. After a considerable time has passed, if a picture is still in the folder, then it’s made the cut. I’d like to share some of my favorites with those of you who love architectural ideas; large and small. Enjoy!
Starting off with bang is this entry of old barns that have been brought together and totally rehabilitated to form a barn home compound. There are so many things I love about this property, but I have to say my favorites are the two enclosed courtyards. The first can allow vehicles and is a more public space, while the second is definitely more personal and private. I LOVE the color scheme of charcoal with brick-red trim, and the harlequin diamond patterns on the roofs was a stroke of genius – imagine those shingles all the same color – it would have looked like an endless sea of roof. Instead, it becomes an interesting feature that draws the eye in a pleasing way. Well done!
Now, this is a timber frame flight-of-fancy. All of the usual, basic elements are here; the timber frame, the large expanse of windows, even the cedar shake shingles. But, Wow, what a creative way to put them all together – and into the side of a steep hillside, to boot! Love it!
Okay, this is a tree house. A structure who’s sole purpose is for fun and relaxation, even the entrance to it is a rope suspension bridge. Look closely at the brackets holding the couch on the platform – gorgeous!
I barely need to say a word; just looking is inspiration enough. What a magnificent barn home!
There is just something about a post and beam frame that makes my heart go thump. This shed is so cute, I’d want to use it as a summer house. Check out the little covered porch!!
This carriage house by Yankee Barn Homes is still one of the most inspired and inspiring post and beam structures I know. This place keeps getting better and better. Of course, it should; I live here!
A Compact Blue Ridge Mountains Yankee Barn Home Lives Large
In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia, ensconced on the side of a mountain is the cutest post and beam home. Built by Yankee Barn Homes and coming in at a conservative 2200 square feet, this timber frame is my latest crush! 
Yet to be professionally photographed, the pictures shown here are ones sent in by the home owners. I promise to do my utmost to get interior pictures so we can all see the inside. In the meantime, I DO have floor plans so at least we’ll see the blue ink version of the interiors. 
The side driveway view of this home accentuates its compact size. Smaller should by no means be misconstrued as lacking. This home has all the finer features we’ve come to expect in a Yankee Barn home; in a smaller footprint! 
Look at the view from the wrap-around deck! The Blue Ridge Mountains may be seen from just about every window and/or deck of this home. Even the drab surroundings of late fall can not lessen the spectacular scenery offered by this site. 
The picture above shows several things: 1) the beautiful stone veneer on the basement walls; 2) the timber frame architectural accents at the peak of the gable; 3) the beautiful glass solarium dining room area; and 4) the addition of an extended deck off the side of the home. The deck is being extend to incorporate more usable outdoor space as this site is so steep, the topography did not afford a flat yard. Therefore, the homeowners did the next best thing by creating one in the form of a deck!
The floor plans show that although the home is smaller square footage-wise, it has the open and airy feel of a much larger post and beam home. Here is the first floor… 
… and the second floor. 
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to move in!
NOW LIVE! A New Yankee Barn Homes Website
Come One, Come All! Please join Post and Beam Living in welcoming the new and improved Yankee Barn Homes interactive website. While a few areas are still under construction - we are a building company that’s always trying to better ourselves – the site is definitely far enough along for everyone to enjoy. 
We are the same wonderful company; now with a new look and more “user-friendly” website. As always, we are very interested in constructive feedback. While we enjoy hearing compliments, we definitely want to hear any insights that might make us even better as there is always room for improvement. Please send your comments, thoughts and/or ideas to either Post and Beam Living, or directly to the Yankee Barn Homes website. 
We believe you’ll like the new look; every page has a wealth of building information and many spectacular photos of beautiful post and beam homes, carriage houses, barns and more! All conceived, crafted and constructed to the highest standards that has come to define the quality found in every Yankee Barn Homes structure.
Please enjoy the new website from Yankee Barn Homes, and remember, we encourage your feedback!
The Folks at Yankee Barn Homes
