This 19th Century Barn Was Renovated And Converted Into A Contemporary Home

May 13, 2021
A renovated barn with black exterior and solar panels.
Photography by Reto Guntli and Brian Ferry

Architecture and interior design firm BarlisWedlick has completed a residential project in Ancram, New York, that includes three different buildings – a barn and pool, the main house, and a sauna tower.

Let’s take a look at the different structures…

The Barn & Pool

BarlisWedlick salvaged and relocated a 19th-century barn from a nearby town and transformed it by painting it black with bold, red-framed windows for its new owner. The barn also has a solar power array built into the roof that provides electricity to multiple buildings on the property.

A modern black barn with solar panels and red window frames.
Photography by Brian Ferry

Adjacent to the barn is a natural swimming pool that uses water gardens to perform all necessary filtration requirements. A wood deck has sun chaises, a lounge area, and outdoor dining.

A modern black barn house with a natural swimming pool.
Photography by Reto Guntli

The interior of the barn, built with Passive House principles, includes a loft with a fireman’s pole that leads to a studio apartment, a wood-burning stove, and a Tesla charging station.

A barn interior with a bed surrounded by a fabric tent.
Photography by Brian Ferry
A renovated barn with a fireman's pole.
Photography by Brian Ferry
Vintage furniture in a renovated barn.
Photography by Brian Ferry

The Main House

The design of the main ‘cabin-style home drew inspiration from the barn and is clad in ‘Shou-sugi-ban’ charred cedar to preserve the wood to make it more durable.

A large cabin-style home with charred cedar siding.
Photography by Brian Ferry
A large cabin-style home with charred cedar siding.
Photography by Brian Ferry

Inside the home, there’s an open living and bedroom area that can be divided by a wall that rises from within the master suite platform. Vintage and built-in furniture are also showcased, with the interior being styled with a modern spin in a rural retreat. The home also includes a dark gray kitchen with integrated appliances, dark countertops, and an island.

The multi-level interior of a barn-inspired home.
Photography by Brian Ferry
Vintage furnishings within a barn-inspired home.
Photography by Brian Ferry
A modern gray kitchen with integrated fridge, dark countertops, and island.
Photography by Brian Ferry
A modern gray kitchen with integrated fridge, dark countertops, black hardware, and an island.
Photography by Brian Ferry
A barn-inspired home with custom bookshelves and a yellow handrail accent.
Photography by Brian Ferry
A modern barn-inspired bedroom with exposed wood.
Photography by Brian Ferry
A contemporary bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower and a freestanding bathtub.
Photography by Brian Ferry

The Sauna Tower

The ‘Sauna Tower’ is a 3-story cedar tower with a sauna that’s connected to the main house by a narrow bridge. The tower starts at the ground level with a wood-burning sauna, with the second level featuring a screened-in porch with seating and a table, and a third level with a lookout and swing.

A three-storey cedar tower with a sauna.
Photography by Brian Ferry

The Site Plan

Here’s a look at the site plan that shows how the different are located in relation to each other and their surroundings.

The site plan of a property with three different structures.
The Barn || Architecture: BarlisWedlick – Alan Barlis, Jessie Goldvarg | Interior Design: BarlisWedlick – Tina Schnabel

The Main House || Architecture: BarlisWedlick

The Sauna Tower || Architecture: BarlisWedlick – Alan Barlis, Jessie Goldvarg | Interior Design: BarlisWedlick – Tina Schnabel | Contractor: Bill Stratton | Sauna Engineer: Proper & O’Leary Engineering, DPC | Landscape: Anthony Archer Wills | Tower and Bridge Structural Engineer: Sellers Treybal