HOUSE & BARN

[KCQHFARM]

We are thinkin about building a barn w/house up in loft. I think it would be money savin by building only one building. Does anyone out there live in such a barn? Any comments welcome!

[lynntn]

Rephartox (sp?), in The Netherlands, has that. Of course, it is a few hundred years old. The house is on the end, with an apartment upstairs. Apparently it is not uncommon in Europe (or NL?) Makes sense.

[KCQHFARM]

It does make sense to us. Its always been a dream of mine.I worked at a barn that had the house upstairs, and thought now this is what I could live in! Just dont know what the building permit people would say.

[Tc]

Yes a girlfriend of mine built one. Only she lives in the front and the arena and barn are behind her and on the sides. She had to do a lot of venting so the barn smell doen't come in the house.
Do your homework before you build.

[brocadosmom]

This is what we have been talking about...we are looking to get property down south...we both hate winter in Michigan...and this is what we want to do.

From what we have looked into...an apartment or town home style on one end of the building looks better to us...easier to keep the barn out of the house part. That way too, would be storage space above the horses...ie, hay storage etc.

I lived in an apartment on a barn a couple of times...to me it was great...could walk out and to night feedings and checks without having to go outside...perfect.

Have fun with it....

[cbelcher]

I have a friend who is a trainer of pleasure horses in Texas. She has a house barn where it is all together under the same roof. You might contact her and let her give you some tips on building one. C-L Ranch, Texas www.pinesalliance.com

[MaryKansas]

My uncle had a pole barn with an attached house on one side of it. It was more of a studio type apartment....one huge room seperated by bookshelves to form the living room and dining room, a huge kitchen that opened into the living room and the biggest bathroom I have ever been in! When you walked out the back door, you were in the tack room, then from there, you were right in the barn. It was perfect for him and his wife....they had grown children so they didnt need any extra rooms. I loved it, because it was very secluded, and if you didnt know better, you would never guess they lived there!!

[aaequestrian]

Another thing besides talking to the building dept. in the area you are looking to build, is talking to an insurance agent. The reason I bring this up is because of hay storage being in the same building. Insurance rates might go up because of this.

As someone else said, the smell and another thing is fly control. Just a few things to think about while you research the idea. Sounds pretty cozy though.

Good luck.

[KCQHFARM]

Thanks for all the info,my husband and I have the same idea on this. We both have grown children from prev marriages, and this is our dream,living in the barn and raising QH babies. He is a WONDERFUL husband! Didn't think there was such a thing! LOL- So nows the time!!