Barn Renovation: 4 Things to Know Before You Start

“We try to recycle as much as we can, being mindful and respectful of the planet and not just wasting materials,” Franklin says. But “a barn beam, you don’t find that at your local Home Depot, that’s unique. So try to save it and use it creatively again in the project.”

When it comes to bringing in new pieces, seriously consider scale. “One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen is using windows and doors that are not in scale with the barn” and are better suited for a standard home’s proportions, Franklin says. “They look very undersized and people don’t typically think about that.” Scale also factors in to the types of lights you’ll select, as a lofty space might require dramatic, larger fixtures that won’t be swallowed up by the open air. Look for pieces that meld both rustic and modern, like the Ocher Drifter chandelier, an oval made with solid oak and adorned with leather and brass detail.

“It’s almost like every decision becomes a can of worms,” Madrilejos says. “With lighting, for example, we don’t have ceilings in the main room,” but a soaring space with different dining, cooking, and lounging spots. The question became, “Are we gonna have just a mess of crazy lights everywhere? What is that going to look like?”

4. Structural issues

Any structure that hasn’t been actively maintained is going to be a potential candidate for water damage and structure issues—and barns are no exception.

Many barns “aren’t even on a foundation,” Franklin explains. “Think of the beams that are sitting on the dirt, year after year, that are getting water on them over and over again, and they rot.” Adding a foundation under an existing barn will require an excavator who “better be real, real experienced,” Franklin adds. If they aren’t, they “can knock the barn beam down and hurt the structure.” If there is a foundation, Barnhill says, it often isn’t stable. And jacking up a barn is a delicate dance, because jacking up one corner could result in the whole barn shifting and coming apart. “A barn that’s been sitting on the same spot for 150 years becomes an organic artifact on the landscape,” he says, explaining that the locks, boards and other organic materials settle overtime. “In some cases, they almost become part of the soil as well as the ecosystem of insects and animals.”

So what can a homeowner yearning to renovate their barn do themselves? “A homeowner can install drywall, paint the interiors, put down tile, put down wood flooring or refinish wood flooring to a certain degree, and all that’s challenging enough,” Franklin says. “But when you’re talking about a major structure and trying not to make it fall down or damage it, this is not for the amateur.”