A Barn House Welcomes Weekenders

This upstate New York barn house is not a radical layout by any means, which explains why architect Nina Gotlieb is always a little amazed when neighbors stop by to fawn over the house. “I feel a lot of individuals need to actually see modern design and architecture in person in order to recognize that a home can be cozy and warm and what they want it to be, regardless of any prescribed fashion,” says Gotlieb.

Regardless of the challenge of securing approval for a new build website, Gotlieb persisted and was finally able to build her dream barn house on magnificent terrain that’s dotted with hills and rocky outcroppings — characteristics that endear the house to Gotlieb much more.

at a Glance
Who lives here: A weekend home for a Brooklyn, New York, couple who love to entertain
Location: Clinton Corners, Dutchess County, New York
Size: 2,700 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, den

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When your driveway is just half a mile long and none of your neighbours are within plain sight, the concept of a front or rear door may safely go out the window. “When guests pull up the driveway, they generally use the doorway on peak of the stairs as the primary entry,” says Gotlieb.

“The barn house fits in with its surroundings over most of the other homes in the region, which can be mostly cookie cutter homes,” says Gotlieb.

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A fire pit visible from the inside and the pool area creates summer night gatherings an outside affair.

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Gotlieb’s favourite part of the weekend home is the kitchen. She sized the island with wider dimensions to accommodate a number of cooks and handlers working at precisely the same time.

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The house sees its fair share of summer and weekend guests, therefore Gotlieb maximized the availability and performance of public spaces. The most enviable lounging area in the house is the covered porch on the second floor, a lovely spot for watching the rain fall.

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The entryway is equally practical and minimalist: Ceramic hex tiles protect the hardwood floors while custom cabinetry homes coats, shoes and other loose items.

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Eye-level windows in the master bedroom framework the woods views. Bud vases out of CB2 filled with aluminum BB pellets form the raindrop-like installation above the bed. His-and-her face cushions add a whimsical touch.

Bed framework: custom, Jay Brennan Fine Woodworking; confront cushions: K Studio

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Though the home speaks the architectural vernacular of other barns nearby, there’s a glimpse of Japanese sway inside: cranes wallpaper by Florence Broadhurst, minimalist furnishings, simple lines and unobstructed vistas.

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Although Gotlieb built the house for weekenders, the house could easily convert into a fulltime home. “Right now, the bedrooms are all made for crashing, so we made them smaller and the gathering spaces larger,” says Gotlieb.

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Gotlieb uses wooden crates as bookshelves in the guest room and extra luggage racks for simple access to weekend bags.

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The windows have a good Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rating and are made only over the border in Canada by Loewen, which employs green practices, including recycling scrap timber. Gotlieb also used a natural spray-foam insulation in conjunction with a fresh-air return system to maintain the house tight yet breathable; mold is never a problem.

The labor and materials that went into the house were local. “We looked into doing solar panels ditched the idea after finding out we’d need to clear about 3 acres of trees — a lesson learned there,” says Gotlieb. “Sometimes what seems green might not actually be the most responsible decision.”

More:
Modern Farmhouse in the Hamptons
New York Farmhouse Having a Western Feel

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