For years, we’ve been tucked away in our tiny home, dreaming and planning for the day we’d finally break ground on a more permanent space right here on our land. We’ve poured over house plans, saving bits and pieces of designs that caught our eye, knowing all the while we wanted to build something that truly felt like “us.”
We knew from the start that building isn’t something we could tackle on our own. After a search for builders who specialize in barndominiums—and who actually cover our area—we found The Barndo Company. That connection kicked off our journey in late summer 2025. If there is one thing we’ve learned, it’s that building a house is a test of patience; what we thought would be a quick start turned into a months-long process of finalizing plans and securing funding before we could really get moving this past January.
Crafting the Perfect Layout
While The Barndo Company offered some fantastic base plans that resonated with us, we wanted to make this home our own. We decided to invest in working directly with their architect to customize every room to fit our lifestyle.
- Living Space: We pushed the front walls out two feet, giving the living room that extra bit of breathing room we craved.
- The Scullery: I am finally getting my dream scullery and canning kitchen—a workspace designed specifically for the preserving I love so much.
- The Hearth: We went back and forth on adding a fireplace, but there’s just nothing like a fire on a cold night. I can already picture the grandbabies hanging their stockings on a beautiful mantle come Christmas.
- Flow: Small adjustments to the interior walls have done wonders for the flow of the home, making every corner feel intentional.
Porch Living & More
If you know me, you know I love the charm of a front porch. We’ll have a lovely space out front for two rockers, welcoming guests through a set of dreamy double doors. But the real star of the show is the back porch. We extended it to a generous 44 feet long by 10 feet wide. It’s destined to be our primary living space, and even though the build is still ongoing, we’ve already hosted family meals out there that were nothing short of wonderful.
I’ve also been planning a cozy corner for that back porch: a deep swing filled with plush cushions. It’s going to be the perfect spot for an afternoon nap or a quiet reading nook to tuck away with a good book.
A Front Row Seat
Living right next to the build site has been such a blessing. It allows us to meet the subcontractors, keep an eye on progress, and catch those little details before they become big issues.
Looking back at our five years of “Tiny” living, I am so grateful for the journey that brought us here. We spent a long time deliberating on whether to build, but seeing our dream take shape makes it all worth it. We can’t wait to have the extra space to host our family and friends and create a lifetime of memories in this home.
Stay tuned as we continue to watch this project grow!
