120-Year-Old Granary Rebuilt As A Brand New House

Old farm buildings are disappearing from the U.S. landscape faster than wet snow on a warm spring day, but Minnesotan Karin Schubert has done her part to preserve a 120-year-old granary for years to come. Schubert reclaimed interior boards, beams and support timbers from an old metal-clad granary on her property that was set for demolition and used them in a brand new 1,650 sq. ft. two-story home. Schubert says she always enjoyed the look and feel of the wood in the old granary on her property, which she’d used for storage. When her daughter planned on razing the structure to build a garage, Schubert realized an important piece of history, and her life, would be gone. After reading a book on farmhouse design written by a Minneapolis architect, Schubert contacted the author to raise the idea of using the granary materials in a home. Schubert says the architect thought it was a brilliant idea and agreed to design the granary house. Her design utilizes the actual footprint of the granary and its interior stairwell and wooden storage bins. Schubert’s builder dismantled the granary piece by piece, numbering each one for re-assembly. The boards and timbers were power-blasted to remove dust, grime, insects and imperfections, then power-brushed for a smooth and lightly textured finish. The new timber frame home uses the original lumber, with some of the framing held together by the granary’s original wood pegs. A water-based varnish seals the exposed interior wood to protect and preserve the color. Schubert’s new home has three main floor rooms that replicate the original granary bins. Exterior walls are primarily windows with native wood on the interior walls and the ceiling. An open/floating staircase that leads to the upper level allows light and air to permeate the home. The upstairs bedroom has a pop-up dormer that provides more headroom than the original granary. The knee walls have built-in drawers. The upper level bathroom, nestled under the original building’s gable, is accessed by a sliding barn door. The lower level houses Schubert’s studio and walkout access to her gardens. Modern interior finishings include a gallery kitchen with simple and efficient cabinets and quartz countertops. Lighting is provided by industrial metal fixtures that Schubert had located years ago. Geo-thermal heating and cooling along with triple-glazed glass and spray-foam insulation allow energy-efficient comfort. Completing the overall grain-themed design is a 1930’s-era circular grain bin repurposed into a single car garage. It’s joined to the house by a new connecting link that serves as an entry mudroom with storage cabinets. Schubert’s home took almost a year to complete and today she savors every Minnesota season through strategically placed windows and comfortable living spaces. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Karin Schubert, 5222 Keats Ave. N., Lake Elmo, Minn. 55042).

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