Room of the Day: Dream Guest Suite in a Revived Barn
An old redwood barn in Marin County, California, becomes modern quarters for overnight visitors
This redwood barn, built in the early 1900s, once served as a horse stable and, later, as a garage. During a cold snap in 2013, the pipes burst, and the barn sustained significant water damage. The owners decided to transform the damaged structure and turn the upstairs into a guest suite for their adult children and grandchildren. Architect Heidi Richardson worked her magic with a seismic upgrade, flood proofing, and a reconfiguration of the barn’s second floor into a open-plan living space with a kitchen, a living area, one bathroom, two bedrooms and a sleeping loft.
The staircase leading from the first floor of the barn to the guest quarters on the second floor has a custom railing made out of rope and stairs that are finished to resemble old gray barn wood. The first floor of the barn houses a gym, a wine room and storage.
The open floor plan features a single-wall kitchen, dining area and living space. Richardson opened up the original flat ceiling to expose the existing trusses, which were repaired where necessary and brought up to code. The ceiling is clear-stained Douglas fir. The built-in cabinetry in the living area performs multiple functions as a TV stand, desk and buffet table.
Throughout the space, Richardson used pendant lighting, such as the silver-tipped exposed lightbulbs hanging from the arched ceiling. “I really didn’t want to put any recessed lighting into the wood ceiling,” she says.
Throughout the space, Richardson used pendant lighting, such as the silver-tipped exposed lightbulbs hanging from the arched ceiling. “I really didn’t want to put any recessed lighting into the wood ceiling,” she says.
A stone-topped dining table can also be used as a prep area for the kitchen. To keep the barn bright, light and contemporary, Richardson opted for white Sheetrock walls. “Being a barn, having some exposed wood was important, but I didn’t want it to become overwhelming,” she says.
The sleeping areas, including a loft for the grandchildren, are tucked away from the more public areas.
The sleeping areas, including a loft for the grandchildren, are tucked away from the more public areas.
Richardson squeezed a cooktop, paneled refrigerator, microwave oven and sink into the kitchen, “and that’s it!” she says. The upper shelves float “so the kitchen wall wouldn’t feel too heavy or enclosing,” she says. A contemporary marble for the back wall and countertop “elevate this space from a more agrarian sensibility,” she adds.
Although the space is currently used for guests, the homeowners and their architect also had the vision to design it “so it could be used in the future as a caregiver residence when the owners need in-home help,” Richardson says.
More: 12 Bar-Raising Barns
Although the space is currently used for guests, the homeowners and their architect also had the vision to design it “so it could be used in the future as a caregiver residence when the owners need in-home help,” Richardson says.
More: 12 Bar-Raising Barns
Guest Suite at a Glance
Who lives here: Visiting family members and friends
Location: Mill Valley, California
Size: 675 square feet (63 square meters)
Designer: Heidi Richardson of Richardson Architects
Richardson was able to retain the barn’s original redwood exterior siding with only a few minor repairs. She also added new windows, rerouted the plumbing mechanisms from the exterior to the interior, and added trellises over the doors to match those on the adjacent garage.