Life in the Barns

[Homebody]

Kinda bored sittin here tonite so I figured I'd start a thread about my barns.
Enjoy...or not.
They've been a work in progress since we moved here 14 years ago. Seems never ending. lol

I'll start with an aerial shot of the layout thanks to my son the pilot.:happy:
As you can see from the pic, the three barns are in what I call the "Bago Triangle". Tools are constantly getting moved among the three and never in the one that I need em in. I even buy doubles and triples of tools at auctions and garage sales to help alleviate that issue. lol

Each building has a name of course so when the kids were young they knew exactly which one I was referring to. At the bottom we have the original corncrib (The Crib), then to the West is The Small Barn, and at a right angle to that is The Big Barn. Ya, I was really creative with the names!:crazy:
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Were gonna start with The Crib as that's the one I'm currently working on transforming it into a Mancave.

 

[Homebody]

Here's the crib as it was when we moved in. Full of ****. :screwup:
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We had cleaned it and just used it for storage until I got let go from my employer in 2002. I then put some money into it and turned it into a sign shop which I've been doing part time since 98.
I won't go over the outside remodeling as those pics were all lost on another PC. But here's how it sits today.:happy:
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This is the East side of it before and current. The orange tint to the door is overspray from the Camaro. lol Gotta fix that this Spring.
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[Homebody]

When I did the inside I made like a little office area in the first 6 feet of the front. We took off the original siding from the outside and reused it on that front area. I drybrushed it red as I thought it looked better than the grey it was. I then "blew up" some corn and mounted it behind the slats for that hybrid corn look. lol
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[Homebody]

The back part of the building was set up initially as a printshop/signshop and worked out of that way until I went back to work full time. I then decided to turn it into a finish area for the cars we worked on for final assembly, etc.
Move a few toolboxes in and here's what it pretty much looks like today.
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[Homebody]

Since I'm a FOP(Fuggin Old Person) now, I'm getting tired of walking from barn to barn doing various things and looking for tools so I've decided to turn the crib into my own little mecca for entertainment purposes. The house really doesn't have any place for guys to sit and talk or just hang out.
First item up was to replace the nasty drop ceiling in the front part. Tore it down and put up a white steel ceiling and 6 can style barn lights.
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[Homebody]

Last fall I came across some old steel roofing for $10.00 a sheet so I bought all the guy had. Not enough there to do the ceiling so I figure I'll do it in the same white as the front part to disperse the lighting better.
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I did however have enough to use it as wainscotting in the back part. So this was today's project. I cut em at 3' high. Quite happy with the way it's looking.
The top part is gonna have a gray woodgrain paneling.
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[url=https://flic.kr/p/ExBrah] 1-20 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Gotta love Spring! Here's the muck I had to trudge through today carrying the steel from one barn to the other.
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[1/2 Cup]

Thanks for sharing, you have an awesome setup..................

 

[REPO]

Great space! Love the car as well! Post more pics of it! I have an original '71 SS big block car myself painted the same color. I see your sticker or nastyZ28.com I used to be on that site daily a number of years ago.

 

[HOTFR8]

Impressive.Thanks for posting.

 

[dubber]

Very cool, i like where your going with the transformation of your hang out pad. Love those ceiling lights.

 

[Bull]

Wow, and that's only one of three barns you have to show us!

Too and the renovation pics for the crib were lost. Do you have the pics for the other two structures during their rehabilitation?

Also, you should join the Justbarns forum, here: http://justbarns.proboards.com/

 

[bj383ss]

Fantastic shop. Love that you reused the wood from the outside on the inside. You have some cool Car art as well. Can't wait to you post more pics. And who doesn't love an orange Camaro with stripes

Bret

 

[Neighbor]

Love evrything you've done on the corn crib. I too have converted a corn crib into a shop and office upstairs.

You might also be interested in "Just Barns" forum
http://justbarns.proboards.com/

 

[Homebody]

Thanks for sharing, you have an awesome setup..................

Thanks, it's worked well for 15 years but I need to consolidate more things to one location. (big barn) lol

Great space! Love the car as well! Post more pics of it! I have an original '71 SS big block car myself painted the same color. I see your sticker or nastyZ28.com I used to be on that site daily a number of years ago.

Thanks REPO, I still have the "Nasty" habit. Here's some eye candy.
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Impressive.Thanks for posting.

Thanks Hot, "Daunting" is more like it! It's A LOT of space to take care of!

Very cool, i like where your going with the transformation of your hang out pad. Love those ceiling lights.

Thanks, Think I'm gonna use those same lights in the back when I get that ceiling done.

Wow, and that's only one of three barns you have to show us! Too and the renovation pics for the crib were lost. Do you have the pics for the other two structures during their rehabilitation?

Also, you should join the Justbarns forum, here: [url]http://justbarns.proboards.com/

The other two big barns haven't really had anything done to them other than the roofs and siding on the small barn. That was done after a storm in 03 that did quite a bit of damage to all the buildings, but that's another story we'll get to later.

I'll be on that Barn site soon also. Thanks

Fantastic shop. Love that you reused the wood from the outside on the inside. You have some cool Car art as well. Can't wait to you post more pics. And who doesn't love an orange Camaro with stripes

Bret

Thanks Bret!

Love evrything you've done on the corn crib. I too have converted a corn crib into a shop and office upstairs.

You might also be interested in "Just Barns" forum
http://justbarns.proboards.com/

Thanks, I hope it turns out even better this time around though!

 

[HSpencer]

Now that is a great looking place!! I would be very comfortable with that space. I would enjoy working in there a lot!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Homebody]

Got the paneling up and tore apart an old gate to use as a chair rail.
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Decided I'd save the counter space and put the appliances below it.
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[4wydnr]

The galvanized wainscoting is awesome! Everything looks great!

 

[77thor]

Wow, very nice.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Very good looking man cave you've got going there! When do you 'move in'? lol

"The top part is gonna have a gray woodgrain paneling."

Did the paneling come with that finish or did you apply it; and if so, how did you do it?

The 'dry brush' technique - could you describe exactly how it's done? Very cool effect; instant 'aged patina'. Do you still do sign painting as a FOP? Could you post some pics of your past work?

The pic of the old gas station hanging on the wall above the microwave is an eye catcher. May I ask where it came from?

When you "went back to work" (same employer ?), what was it you did for a living? I know a LOT of us were let go /laid off when the economy tanked in 2002; not many guys/gals got the 'call back'.

"Bago Triangle" - I love it! Is that because you always had to grab a 'Bag-O-Tools' to get anything done? Since you are now a FOP, you are allowed to go out and purchase an equally old Cushman utility shop truck, add some go-fast parts to it, and zoom around the property! Just think, you can throw an old tool box (or three) on the flatbed and have a mobile shop to go from barn to barn; don't forget to add the ubiquitous cup holder for the 'dust-cutter' beverage.

That aerial shot of the "Bago Triangle" shows a black rectangle on the house roof (yes?), is that a solar panel array? If so, how's that working out for you?

Sorry for all the questions, but you've definitely got an interesting place there, and it looks like you've done some serious work on it in the fourteen years you've called it home. Looking forward to more pics and stories.

 

[Dr Dave]

Cool car, that corn crib will be a great man cave. Glad to see you reused the buildings, rather than tore down and rebuilt.

Dave

 

[Homebody]

The galvanized wainscoting is awesome! Everything looks great!

Thanks. I had a vision of how it would look and by golly it's just as I imagined!

Wow, very nice.

Thanks Thor!

Very good looking man cave you've got going there! When do you 'move in'? lol

"The top part is gonna have a gray woodgrain paneling."

Did the paneling come with that finish or did you apply it; and if so, how did you do it?

The 'dry brush' technique - could you describe exactly how it's done? Very cool effect; instant 'aged patina'. Do you still do sign painting as a FOP? Could you post some pics of your past work?

The pic of the old gas station hanging on the wall above the microwave is an eye catcher. May I ask where it came from?

When you "went back to work" (same employer ?), what was it you did for a living? I know a LOT of us were let go /laid off when the economy tanked in 2002; not many guys/gals got the 'call back'.

"Bago Triangle" - I love it! Is that because you always had to grab a 'Bag-O-Tools' to get anything done? Since you are now a FOP, you are allowed to go out and purchase an equally old Cushman utility shop truck, add some go-fast parts to it, and zoom around the property! Just think, you can throw an old tool box (or three) on the flatbed and have a mobile shop to go from barn to barn; don't forget to add the ubiquitous cup holder for the 'dust-cutter' beverage.

That aerial shot of the "Bago Triangle" shows a black rectangle on the house roof (yes?), is that a solar panel array? If so, how's that working out for you?

Sorry for all the questions, but you've definitely got an interesting place there, and it looks like you've done some serious work on it in the fourteen years you've called it home. Looking forward to more pics and stories.

Thanks Ooomph. (I hearby christen you that name for short!)
Let's see if I can answer your questions in order.

The woodgrain paneling is just as bought at Menards. It's $25.00 a sheet but well worth it in my opinion. It even has a rough textured finish like old wood has. I knew I had to have it as soon as I saw it a couple years ago! Perfect match for what I had envisioned.

I did use the "dry brush" technique on the red walls you see in the front part of the shop.

The old Gas Station sign came from a swap meet last year.
I've got two other smaller ones similar that I need to hang yet.

As far as work, I've been a printer for 35 years. I was laid off in 02 and spent two years unemployed until I got called back (miraculously) by a previous pharmaceutical company whom I worked for previously and never should have left in the first place!
Lesson learned? Never burn bridges with an employer as they just may need you back some day!

As for the Bago Triangle, I have a couple riding mowers and 4 wheelers that haul tool boxes where I need them on the farm. I'm sure you'll see them in a pic eventually. I did buy a new zero turn last year also and LOVE IT!!

The black roof on the house is just that, a black rubber membrane that's used frequently around here for flat roofs. It's about 12 x 12. No solar panels here.

There, I think I covered em all! lol

Cool car, that corn crib will be a great man cave. Glad to see you reused the buildings, rather than tore down and rebuilt.

Dave

Thanks Dave. The farm has been in the family since 75 and was rented out for about 15 years in the 80's and 90's. When the chance came to purchase it, the wifey and I sold our brand new house and jumped at it as it was getting run down and neglected pretty bad. I had to save the barns!!

 

[Homebody]

I managed to get all the toolboxes moved to the Big Barn and can now start finishing the last two walls.
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Here's where they went. (and your first sneak peak at the inside of the Big Barn) It all fits great in this corner of the room and will work out great.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/21AmBsQ] 2-2 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/153040134@N06/

 

[Homebody]

Just to give you an idea of how run down the place was when we moved in. (98)
Here's the Big Barn on the right and believe it or not, the Small Barn isn't even visible behind all the trees and brush!
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And here's looking at pretty much the same angle but a bit closer 14 years later.
We actually brought in about 200 yards of fill for the Barnyard as it was actually about 4' lower in elevation than what this pic shows.
Still a ton to do, but time and money keeps preventing that.
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[upndown]

^Beautiful^

 

[lucajack2cv]

Amazing place these barns, great ambiance.. Sincere congratulations!

Luca.

 

[CNGsaves]

Fabulous improvements on the barn buildings!!

What year / make is the pickup . . . . 40's??

 

[stovebolter46]

it looks great! I just sold my '46 chevy. Mine was a green flatbed also with some dents in the fenders. Damn, I miss that thing.

 

[BSAschields]

Awesome Place you have there. Subscribed! so keep the pictures coming please....

 

[ssentt]

You have done a GREAT job bringing them back. Thats something to be proud of. My hats off to you sir.

 

[Homebody]

^Beautiful^

Thanks!

Amazing place these barns, great ambiance.. Sincere congratulations!

Luca.

That it is. I love old barns. Thanks.

Fabulous improvements on the barn buildings!!

What year / make is the pickup . . . . 40's??

it looks great! I just sold my '46 chevy. Mine was a green flatbed also with some dents in the fenders. Damn, I miss that thing.

Thanks guys. The pickup is a 46 and is just "Yardart". A friend of a friend was going to send it to the scrap yard so I loaded up the trailer and beat em to it.
It actually still has the complete drivetrain in it..with oil. LOL Thing would probably start if I spent some time on it, but I'm happy with it just where it is.
RatRodders hate me because of that. lol
I did letter the door to give it a more personal touch.

We actually just moved it again today. Pushed it up so it goes along that wall instead of at an angle.
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[Homebody]

Awesome Place you have there. Subscribed! so keep the pictures coming please....

You have done a GREAT job bringing them back. Thats something to be proud of. My hats off to you sir.

Thanks! I'm never bored, I can walk out the front door..look in any direction..and find a project!

 

[Homebody]

My brother helps out quite a bit around here and never fails to bring out a truck load of "cool stuff" whenever he can. I told him he can have the Small Barn to do with as he pleases and that was the plan until he found these 32' trusses on Craigslist for $20.00 a piece.
Now it looks like we'll be building a 32 x 24 garage onto the back of the Crib.
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The area could use a little sprucing up so this will help us both out.
It will actually go between the Crib and this old chicken shed, which were gonna save and use as a tool room of some sort.
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[Zeke]

Enjoyed the tour. Thanks.

 

[Homebody]

And just to show you the house isn't being neglected either.....lol
Happy Wife = Happy Life!

Plans are in the works to add a 3 car garage attached garage to the back of that porch addition this Summer.
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[Posi]

Liked the garages but the house looks great!

Back in the day I had a `70.5 RS/Z28 one of five camaros I've owned over the years sadly it never looked anything like yours.

 

[Kevin54]

And just to show you the house isn't being neglected either.....lol
Happy Wife = Happy Life!

Plans are in the works to add a 3 car garage attached garage to the back of that porch addition this Summer.

Great looking place for sure and Kudos for resurrecting the old barns. One question though with the pics....when did you go from scraping paint to siding the house, or repainting the house? This month?

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Hey thanks for the answers to my numerous questions. Looks like 'life on the farm' is agreeing with you and the farm is benefiting too! lol

 

[NASTYZEN]

Thanks for sharing your beautiful place. Amazing transformation over the years. We can see the love that went into it.

 

[Homebody]

Liked the garages but the house looks great!

Back in the day I had a `70.5 RS/Z28 one of five camaros I've owned over the years sadly it never looked anything like yours.

Thanks. I just got done with a 3 year restoration on it last Summer. Time to enjoy it!!

Great looking place for sure and Kudos for resurrecting the old barns. One question though with the pics....when did you go from scraping paint to siding the house, or repainting the house? This month?

I tore all the original wood siding off the house and sided it..by myself..over a period of 3 years. (2006-08)

Hey thanks for the answers to my numerous questions. Looks like 'life on the farm' is agreeing with you and the farm is benefiting too! lol

That it is, though I'm not quite as ambitous as I used to be. Sad really, cuz I'm only 49. Nasman makes me look real bad!

Thanks for sharing your beautiful place. Amazing transformation over the years. We can see the love that went into it.

Thanks, I appreciate it!

 

[80WTI_55_CHEV]

I love your place mate,and a sweet ride as well. job well done.