Transforming a Historic Barn into a Multigenerational Haven

This historic barn underwent a major shift in terms of purpose, but maintained all its charm.

The Search

When this Fairfield County couple first reached out, they shared a common challenge I hear often: they'd spent over a year searching for a property that could accommodate an ADU for the husband's mother. After touring countless homes and calculating zoning regulations, they finally found a historic property with a 1760s main house and a timber frame barn tucked behind it. Something about it just felt right.

Working with What's There

Here's something that surprised them: we didn'teed to start from scratch. That existing barn had a solid foundation and beautiful heavy timber beams.. We carefully took down the structure and saved many of those timbers to incorporate into the new design. It felt good to give them a second life rather than sending everything to a landfill.

Designing for Today and Tomorrow

The new 1,300-square-foot, two-story ADU maintains that authentic barn character while providing comfortable, accessible living space. The first floor has 9-foot ceilings with a living room, kitchen, dining area, and half bath that flow together naturally. Upstairs, there's a primary bedroom suite with an adjacent painting studio—the mother is an artist—plus a small guest bedroom.

One feature worth mentioning: we designed two large walk-in closets, stacked vertically, that can be converted to an elevator shaft down the road if mobility becomes an issue. It's just one of those things that's much easier to plan for now than retrofit later.

Energy Efficiency on a Budget

We super-insulated the structure and installed an air-to-air heat pump for heating and cooling, which keeps energy costs manageable. The roof is solar-ready for when the family's budget allows it. I often suggest this phased approach—get the ADU built first, then add solar when it makes sense financially.

What Makes It Work

This project reminds me why I love this work. It brought three generations together while respecting everyone's need for independence, honored the historic character of the property, and incorporated sustainable practices throughout. The ADU complements that beautiful 1760s house rather than competing with it.

If you're considering an ADU for your property, you might be surprised by what's possible—sometimes the solution is closer than you think.