Jeff F
Well-known member
Howdy all! I've been a lurker on and off for a while, but now that I am starting on a new build I'd like to get the collective GJ eyeballs to give some opinions and ideas. It's always good to get a fresh perspective on something you've been thinking about for a while.
Here is a quick background. In December '09 we moved from Michigan to Pennsylvania. Our previous house in Michigan was somewhat unique. It was in a small town (walking distance to "downtown" restaurants, library, etc.) but was on a decent size lot (~1/3 acre, one of the largest in town) and was just begging to have a garage addition put onto it. We bought it in 1998 and immediatly put on an addition that was ~1350sqft gararge and ~850sqft of future living space, with the living space finished off in 2002. When we started looking in PA, I knew it was going to be a tough act to follow especially since we had a fairly small area (~15 mile radius) that we wanted to live in. We ended up finding a great house in a small town in PA that was actually CLOSER to "downtown", and was on a BIGGER lot (over 6/10 acre). It's actually on two lots (front and back) and the back lot has an apartment over a garage, all of which is a mess and is going to be knocked down to make way for the new "barn". Because it is zoned for much smaller lots, we are allowed 40% building coverage and 60% impervious, which we won't get even close to on our property.
So the project is starting on a pole barn. Plan right now is 36x48. To keep withing the height limitations and still fit a lift, plan right now is 11' ceiling with scissor trusses and either a 5 or 6 pitch roof, depending on what we can get away with.
What I am struggling with now is the best way to "dress up" the barn to make it attractive to look at, considering that it is in a fairly urban area and will be close to neighbors and public view. What I am going for is a look of a barn converted to a garage. Some of the design cues are keeping the roof pitch as high as we can get away with, carrige style doors that are big (12w x 10t) and 2' eaves to make the building look smaller from a distance, 2 color sides, etc. I think that the front looks good, but the side is a bit of a slab and I'm trying to come up with ideas for it. Any and all ideas/comments are welcome.
Here is a rendering:
Here is a quick background. In December '09 we moved from Michigan to Pennsylvania. Our previous house in Michigan was somewhat unique. It was in a small town (walking distance to "downtown" restaurants, library, etc.) but was on a decent size lot (~1/3 acre, one of the largest in town) and was just begging to have a garage addition put onto it. We bought it in 1998 and immediatly put on an addition that was ~1350sqft gararge and ~850sqft of future living space, with the living space finished off in 2002. When we started looking in PA, I knew it was going to be a tough act to follow especially since we had a fairly small area (~15 mile radius) that we wanted to live in. We ended up finding a great house in a small town in PA that was actually CLOSER to "downtown", and was on a BIGGER lot (over 6/10 acre). It's actually on two lots (front and back) and the back lot has an apartment over a garage, all of which is a mess and is going to be knocked down to make way for the new "barn". Because it is zoned for much smaller lots, we are allowed 40% building coverage and 60% impervious, which we won't get even close to on our property.
So the project is starting on a pole barn. Plan right now is 36x48. To keep withing the height limitations and still fit a lift, plan right now is 11' ceiling with scissor trusses and either a 5 or 6 pitch roof, depending on what we can get away with.
What I am struggling with now is the best way to "dress up" the barn to make it attractive to look at, considering that it is in a fairly urban area and will be close to neighbors and public view. What I am going for is a look of a barn converted to a garage. Some of the design cues are keeping the roof pitch as high as we can get away with, carrige style doors that are big (12w x 10t) and 2' eaves to make the building look smaller from a distance, 2 color sides, etc. I think that the front looks good, but the side is a bit of a slab and I'm trying to come up with ideas for it. Any and all ideas/comments are welcome.
Here is a rendering:
