Seattle-based architect Don Frothingham has converted an old dairy barn into a beautiful modern home on scenic Bainbridge Island in Washington. Offering 3 bedrooms, expansive interior living spaces and plenty of outdoor recreation, the home exudes agrarian charm and is updated with modern conveniences that prove to be quite eco-friendly as well.
The barn’s website provides a wealth of information on each room after its renovation, as well as the details of Frothingham’s additions. Like other barn renovations we’ve seen in the past, Frothingham refrained from creating too many interior separations, leaving cathedral-like ceilings and lots of transparent surface area for natural daylighting and passive solar heat to fill the spaces with warmth. The use of eco-friendly materials can be also found in numerous spots around the home, from Paperstone composite countertops in the kitchen, to dual flush toilets and cork flooring in the bathroom.
The renovation works to ensure a comfortable indoor climate by integrating green building practices while preserving the character of the barn. A second roof and an additional layer of insulation were added above the barn’s original roof so that the barn’s wooden structure could still be admired from the inside. French doors leading to the deck feature modern insulated glass, although many windows throughout the home were left with single-pane, divided-light, leaded glass. Finally, an upstairs nook is kept cozy with a wood stove that has the ability to warm the entire upper level.
Set in an idyllic landscape that includes second-growth forest, pasture land and even a retired orchard, this converted dairy barn is sure to charm its inhabitants with its rustic character without robbing them of the conveniences of contemporary living.
+ Bainbridge Barn
