Renovation: Milking Barn to Rustic Cottage

Posted February 9, 2010 By Chuck Horne

This structure was originally an early-twentieth-century milking shed. The previous owners had partially converted the hayloft into a workspace and added an attached barn. When one of our regular clients purchased the property, they called on Compass Home Improvement & Remodeling to complete the renovation.

Chuck began in the main room by removing two beams and a center post. He replaced them with one large structural beam, and wrapped it in rough cedar to maintain the rustic atmosphere of the cottage. The ceilings were cleaned with a wire brush, and the beauty of the original joists became apparent. Next, Chuck re-framed the exterior walls, added insulation, sheet-rocked, and textured using a skip-trowel technique. We replaced the single-pane, fixed windows on the main level with double-pane, low E, awning windows. Upstairs, a matching slider window topped by a fixed panel replaced the original hayloft doors. Next, Chuck leveled the sloped concrete floor and installed 12″ ceramic tile in warm earth tones. Finally, rough cedar baseboards were added, and track lighting and wall sconces completed our work. The owners will paint and add rock around the fireplace for the final touch to this delightful, rustic cottage.