Houzz Tour: Farmhouse Meets Industrial in a Restored New Jersey Barn
Amish craftsmen, trusting clients and an architect with a vision save a historic barn from a complete teardown
A historic New Jersey barn's days were numbered. "This barn was in horrible condition. It was looking sad and forlorn," says architect Arturo Palombo. "It had reached the point where the homeowners needed to tear it down or restore it." Palombo knew some of the old barn's original timbers could live on in the new barn — which would be used as a pool house, guesthouse and garage to support the main farmhouse — but the rest was unsalvageable.
At 100 feet long, the structure had proportions appropriate for a working barn surrounded by farm acreage 200 years ago, but in its current subdivided landscape, they were way off scale."Stylistically the original barn was pretty banal. We took cues from some of the indigenous barns of the area and introduced new siding, windows, doors, hand-split cedar shingle roofing and copper gutters and leaders," the architect says. "At the rear the client loved [The Barefoot Contessa host] Ina Garten's barn in Southampton, so we used part of that as inspiration."
"The original timber framing was cleaned, fumigated and then milled to our specifications and layout," Palombo says. He enlisted Amish craftsmen to rework and restore the original barn's post and beam structure, and rebuild it on a carefully selected site that makes the most of a hill and connects it to the main house, gardens, driveway and pool.
Guest Houzz at a Glance
Location: Harding Township, New Jersey
Size: 1,464 square feet of living space, including a sleeping loft
At 100 feet long, the structure had proportions appropriate for a working barn surrounded by farm acreage 200 years ago, but in its current subdivided landscape, they were way off scale."Stylistically the original barn was pretty banal. We took cues from some of the indigenous barns of the area and introduced new siding, windows, doors, hand-split cedar shingle roofing and copper gutters and leaders," the architect says. "At the rear the client loved [The Barefoot Contessa host] Ina Garten's barn in Southampton, so we used part of that as inspiration."
"The original timber framing was cleaned, fumigated and then milled to our specifications and layout," Palombo says. He enlisted Amish craftsmen to rework and restore the original barn's post and beam structure, and rebuild it on a carefully selected site that makes the most of a hill and connects it to the main house, gardens, driveway and pool.
Guest Houzz at a Glance
Location: Harding Township, New Jersey
Size: 1,464 square feet of living space, including a sleeping loft
Utilizing the existing topography was key to the building's success. Thanks to careful placement and Palombo's clever tinkering with the design, minimal grading was required. Now a driveway leads to a three-car garage on the right. Upper living space opens out to a pool and terrace, while a terraced garden and retaining walls made of local fieldstone navigate the middle.
A mudroom off the entry has hooks for towels and leads to changing rooms. The granite tile floor can stand up to damp feet.
The wall is covered in semigloss black wainscoting with a natural sisal wall covering over it. There is underfloor radiant heat throughout the barn; the clients and their guests enjoy using the home long after swimming season ends.
The wall is covered in semigloss black wainscoting with a natural sisal wall covering over it. There is underfloor radiant heat throughout the barn; the clients and their guests enjoy using the home long after swimming season ends.
The post and beam structure is the only part of the barn that the builders were able to save; the rest of it was beyond repair. White walls contrast with the rough-hewn beams and reclaimed floor.
An open plan combines a summer kitchen and living and dining areas. A sleeping loft takes up part of the upper reaches.
An open plan combines a summer kitchen and living and dining areas. A sleeping loft takes up part of the upper reaches.
Papyrus Home Design did the interior design, which mixes farmhouse and industrial touches, keeping things fresh and balanced. For example, contemporary acrylic Thayla chairs sit astride a wooden dining table and atop a natural-fiber rug and floorboards that were reclaimed from another old barn.
Dining table: Room & Board; wall paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore
Dining table: Room & Board; wall paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore
A small round kitchen table and industrial counter stools provide more casual and intimate gathering spots. The patina on the metal chairs and stools picks up on the weathered gray tones of the old barn wood.
In the summer kitchen, watery glass backsplash tiles and counters made of recycled glass reflect the light, add polish and contrast with the rough-hewn post and beam construction. A walnut cutting board relates back to the thick beams and barn wood.
The kitchen does not have an oven or a range, but there is a grill and an Italian pizza oven just outside the barn doors on the terrace.
Counters: Grey Amazon, Silestone; cabinet paint: Puritan Gray, Benjamin Moore; backsplash tile: Bisazza; cabinets: custom, Bischoff Custom Cabinets
The kitchen does not have an oven or a range, but there is a grill and an Italian pizza oven just outside the barn doors on the terrace.
Counters: Grey Amazon, Silestone; cabinet paint: Puritan Gray, Benjamin Moore; backsplash tile: Bisazza; cabinets: custom, Bischoff Custom Cabinets
"This project came out so well because these were dream clients; they had a lot of faith in what we had to say," Palombo says. "We wanted it to have a historic look without being a cliché." The plans also pleased the local historic commission.
Now the clients can enjoy the barn year-round, whether rinsing off after a swim, having friends over for pizza made in the outdoor oven, watching movies or giving visiting family their own special getaway spot.
Now the clients can enjoy the barn year-round, whether rinsing off after a swim, having friends over for pizza made in the outdoor oven, watching movies or giving visiting family their own special getaway spot.