A Family Salvages an 1880s Barn to Create Their Nearly-Net Zero Escape

With the help of Chicago-based architecture and planning firm Northworks, a family of four brought its vision of a sustainable and hardy modern barn to fruition. The newly constructed 4,500-square-foot weekend home, located in southwest Wisconsin, stands next to the footprint of a dilapidated barn that came with the property. The barn was disassembled by Northworks and the resulting materials were used to create custom furniture and details such as the home's limestone hearth and retaining wall near its pool.

Part of the beauty of this modern barn comes with the territory: 200 acres of rolling meadows owned by the family for over 25 years. Even more stunning is the enormous glass facade used to update the traditional barn silhouette and classic interior styling, homages to the original structure. The home's materials—both new and salvaged—reflect the vernacular architecture of the region and are naturally designed to withstand weather and time. Additionally, open floor plans and floor-to-ceiling windows create a living experience very much connected to nature. One of the homeowners remarks, “This is a house built to enjoy the feeling and the views afforded by the Driftless region of Wisconsin.”

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The design pairs durable steel construction on the outside with warmer timber frames on the interior. At the center of the expansive glass wall stands a two-sided fireplace that can heat the deck outside and living room within. Seen here are a Restoration Hardware Brickmaker’s coffee table and sofas from Lee Industries.

Far from the dark, cavernous barns of the Midwest, tall ceilings and an open floor plan creates an airy interior. Architect Bill Bickford and contractor Traditional Carpentry, Inc. collaborated on a unique sliding door to the upstairs master suite: a vintage billboard cut in half and put on a barn door track. The sitting area below features Raleigh Armchairs from Design Within Reach and a loveseat from Jayson Home.

The homeowners needed a kitchen that could hold the 20 or so friends and family members they usually host on holidays and reunions. The kitchen island—which features a countertop of recycled paper and cement from Squak Mountain Stone—can easily accommodate plenty of Tolix aluminum bar stools. Custom Douglas fir cabinetry frames a Miele dishwasher, Sub Zero refrigerator, Blanco sink, and a Wolf oven with a Vent-A-Hood overhead.

The aluminum pipe light fixture and white oak dining room table—made from the original barn’s horse stalls—were both DIY projects completed by one of the homeowners and their friend, respectively. A design from The Rug Company, made from patches of old rugs, sits under the table.

Big Ass Fans keep the loft from getting too hot in summer; SIP insulation helps keep it warm in winter. This second level accommodates the master suite and a small office space, furnished with a CB2 desk and a vintage chair purchased in Chicago. Another unique feature of the space is the hardwood floors, which are heart pine salvaged from the bottom of Lake Superior.

The old barn's foundation, re-stacked by a local stonemason, was reused as a rustic retaining wall for the pool area. The property also came with a corn crib and blacksmith shop as old as the barn, seen behind the pool, which are both used for storage now. St. Tropez chaises from Kingsley-Bate line the pool.

From red painted cedar siding to no-fuss structural elements, Northworks’ solution reaches a happy medium between the classic barn look and a weekend retreat. “The best thing about this house,” explains one resident, “is that when it’s just the four of us, it feels cozy. But even when we’re hosting 25 people, it never feels crowded.”