Take a tour of a historic barn that has been completely restored by Haver & Skolnick Architects.
Litchfield County’s Connecticut landscape was once filled with thriving farms. Many of the old barns still exist but their structures are often weathered and neglected.
This barn is located on a large farm, which now serves as a weekend retreat for a Manhattan couple and their four active children. The goal was to preserve and convert this long-neglected barn into a family entertainment center and insure this 18th century barn would make it into the next century.
The project’s main focus was on stabilizing and preserving the massive structure which required extensive reinforcement and foundation work. Many of the original materials were reused within the barn. Later asphalt roofing was replaced with more appropriate wood shingles and a modern skylight was replaced with a cupola designed to reflect the period.
The main area of the original barn serves as the billiard room and family gathering space. All of the original hand-hewn timbers and rough ceiling sheathing were preserved. The walls were coated in a rough unpainted plaster. Rustic antique furnishings, colorful rugs, upholstery, and antique carnival folk-art bring the room together.
The high ceilings are magnificent!
In the 19thcentury, an equine wing was added to the barn. Preserving the original iron stall stanchions and decorative grates, this area was converted into a pub and pinball arcade. The original rough pine wall sheathing was retained, and a later concrete floor was replaced with rustic stone paving. The horse stalls now house pinball machines and the largest foaling stall houses the bar. Sliding barn doors were fashioned from salvaged pine boards and original iron grates.
A cozy state of the art theater was created in the attic loft. The built-in banquettes provide a comfortable alternative to conventional theater seating. The speakers are concealed behind repurposed iron grates and copper lanterns reinforce the barn experience. Antique hooked rugs featuring folky horses are located above the banquettes.
Thanks again Haver & Skolnick Architects for sharing this beautiful project. You can find more photos of the barn on their website.
Photos by Robert Benson Photography
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