Making your shop appealing to the eye

[Roothawg]

I have been researching a "retirement" shop/home, Barndominium, whatever you want to call it.

The problem is, I want something that makes me happy to come home to. The wife has graciously listened to the "Big Barn Theory" for the past 30 years. I figure if she is willing to concede, I should try and make it look like something other than a metal box.

I will have to have the engineered red iron building, as opposed to a stick built.
We are looking at building a 60'x100'x16'.


I like the idea of a galvanized sheetmetal, with a stacked stone around the base. I love the doors in this shop. He's a fellow hot rodder.


I am after a vintage, industrial look.
Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks


Root

 

[Robbo]

Muller buildings has a gallery on their website with lots of different flavors. I haven’t looked closely at the Morton building site, but I bet they do too.

Go to Pinterest and search various terms you’re interested in “vintage shop” “barndominium” etc. I have to stay away from Pinterest sometimes or my future barn is going to have to be 80x 500 to fit in all the ideas haha.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[930dreamer]

Lots of cool looks;

 

[gahrajmahal]

I like Buick farmers place.

 

[w33b8t1]

My BIL did one with galvanized waynes coating and did the rustic treatment on it. Whatever acid you use for that. Looked pretty nice.

I think your preoblem is 100' is a long way no matter what you do. Needs to have some architecture or landscape to break it up. No amount of siding is going to change that.

 

[Roothawg]

I think your preoblem is 100' is a long way no matter what you do. Needs to have some architecture or landscape to break it up. No amount of siding is going to change that.

I plan on putting doors on the short side which would break it up a bit. The house portion will be in the front, with a walk out upper deck/porch.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The sky is the limit, depending on what you want to spend. . . . if can you afford to spend big bucks to make you happy, well money does buy happiness.

 

[Howie Coro]

check out my youtube channel/video. I am starting a shop build very similar to what your thinking. If you subscribe and hit the bell on the side, you will get notified when I post a new video in the playlist. I plan on vlogging the whole build. I am about to start a new tread on this as well. The plan is metal frame building. Metal roof, rough-cut pine on the sides, with a board and batten style finish. Also, the first four bottom feet will be galvanized roofing to give it an industrial look.

Thanks

 

[jimreed2160]

Good luck, Root. My garage shop was cluttered and filled with plastic shelving and 2x4 & plywood tables. For the past year I have been installing nice mobile tool boxes as workbenches and just started adding Gladiator cabinets. It is slowly evolving into a nice and fun place to be.

So I say add bling inside and out. You will appreciate it and it will make you smile.

 

[Roothawg]

Howie Cool channel. I subscribed.

 

[Howie Coro]

Thanks for the Sub!

 

[Roothawg]

Old thread, back from the dead. we have been pursuing this heavily the last couple months. Still haven't found that perfect piece of property. We have found our concrete finisher and building manufacturer.

 

[Falcon67]

The property thing would be the hardest part IMHO.

 

[zmotorsports]

The property thing would be the hardest part IMHO.

Agreed. My dream shop has existed in my head for many years now but when we started looking to move back in 2016 finding the exact home and property was the hardest part of the build. We found some that had 3/4 acre lot but the house was either situated on the property funky which would make shop placement weird or the shape of the property was not conducive to my end goal. I looked at one that was sized and shaped properly but the elevation change from the street to the house and then into the back yard was like a roller coaster and I didn't even want to attempt backing my coach back there so we crossed it off the list immediately.

 

[Homerr]

I would suggest after you find the property that will fit the building size you want that you then hire an architect. Yes, even if you are using a prefab building manufacturer. There are a few reasons:

1. You are looking for a 60x100x16 that doesn't look like a 60x100x16. Hire someone who designs as a profession to get a look going. Let them carry the load of figuring out how a metal building can be something that both you and your wife are happy with. You and your wife are then on the same team.

2. Be open to them talking you out of a 60x100x16. It's just too much of a mass to really be anything other than giant metal building How about two 60x50 footprints offset by 10'? Same square footage but breaking it up may have just cut the look in half from the house if it is sited correctly. Maybe the prefab manufacturer offers several different shapes and sizes that can but put together, maybe you can get by with 12' plate on half of it?

3. Localization. Some metal building manufacturers just want to sell their stock package, or will at least charge high rates to change that. An example is foundation type, some areas have differences that are normal and a local person can adapt the plans so that a building department will accept them.

4. An architect can help you with drawing the 'add-on' parts such as porches or other items that add to the look. They can help you site any other outbuildings you might consider.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

My WIFE wants to do this with a 50x200 building we own.

Capt. Chrysler

 

[Chaz]

Here's my house/shop combo.

 

[bullnerd]

Shouldn't the first criteria be tornado proof?

Based on your location and the news lately?

 

[PurdueSD]

Hey thanks for the flattery on the doors. I would definitely recommend them!

On a side note, we built a barn with one end finished into a 2 bedroom Lodge of sorts for our weekend retreat. It has a wrap around covered porch which is one of my favorite features.

If i had it to do over again... Id build a barn and a separate cabin. Finishing out a pole barn seems so easy and cheap... but if you want it nice, its not as easy or cheap as it would seem. I think most of us have thought how cool it would be to live in your shop...

 

[Jazz1]

Painted my door, I’d like to do some cedar tongue and groove on some walls when I quit painting vehicles

 

[Roothawg]

I would suggest after you find the property that will fit the building size you want that you then hire an architect. Yes, even if you are using a prefab building manufacturer. There are a few reasons:

1. You are looking for a 60x100x16 that doesn't look like a 60x100x16. Hire someone who designs as a profession to get a look going. Let them carry the load of figuring out how a metal building can be something that both you and your wife are happy with. You and your wife are then on the same team.

Already talking to one. Good info though.

2. Be open to them talking you out of a 60x100x16. It's just too much of a mass to really be anything other than giant metal building How about two 60x50 footprints offset by 10'? Same square footage but breaking it up may have just cut the look in half from the house if it is sited correctly. Maybe the prefab manufacturer offers several different shapes and sizes that can but put together, maybe you can get by with 12' plate on half of it?

We have talked about doing this and building a common area between the two. Gating both ends with nice wrought iron and this would become the "patio".


3. Localization. Some metal building manufacturers just want to sell their stock package, or will at least charge high rates to change that. An example is foundation type, some areas have differences that are normal and a local person can adapt the plans so that a building department will accept them.

Agreed.

4. An architect can help you with drawing the 'add-on' parts such as porches or other items that add to the look. They can help you site any other outbuildings you might consider.

Yep. We are trying to think about this for a while to make sure we don't make a mistake.

Here's my house/shop combo.

Very NIce!

Shouldn't the first criteria be tornado proof?
Based on your location and the news lately?

No such thing. It's all an odds games. It's a gamble every spring. Just being aware is a good start. Underground is the best option. I live in the land of the F5.

If i had it to do over again... Id build a barn and a separate cabin. Finishing out a pole barn seems so easy and cheap... but if you want it nice, its not as easy or cheap as it would seem. I think most of us have thought how cool it would be to live in your shop...

We have pondered that as well.

 

[PhantomEB]

Meh I like the plain look as long it matches the house or is a total barn look.

The real eye candy is inside after all?

 

[Jackfre]

I will suggest that you go to the WesternStatesMetal.com site and look at the options, regardless of building style. I was shocked at how many options there are. I used the Coreten 606A metal on my shop. With the odors, smoke and noise I'd make a small house and a large shop separate. That gives you the ability to make all the stink, smoke and noise you want as well as giving you and her a little space from each other. My wife and I get along real well, but the 80' from shop door to house door is therapeutic.

 

[Hogger]

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