Allow your imagination to soar with this portfolio of beautiful homes and stables guaranteed to trigger creative ideas.

THE BARN: A Weekend Getaway

Location: Australia

Builders: CHG Construction

Architect: Paul Uhlmann Architects

The residence was designed as a rural weekend getaway for a city couple and their children. The idea of “The Barn” was embraced, as the building was intended to be an escape for the family to enjoy their horses.

The ground floor plan, created by the project team of Paul Uhlmann and David Currie, completely opens up and engages with the sprawling lawn and grounds of the property. This also enables cross ventilation, and the ability of the family’s young children and their friends to run in and out of the building as they please. Cathedral-like ceilings and windows open up to frame views of the paddocks and bushland below.

The bunkroom upstairs is generous enough for multiple children as a weekend getaway and when other families come to stay. The rooms upstairs also have skylights to watch the clouds go past during the day, and the stars at night. Australian hardwood has been used extensively both internally and externally, to reference the rural setting.

CHAPEL SPRINGS BARN: Timeless Beauty Amid Rolling Hills

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Builder: B&D Builders

Architect: Eldon Stoltzfus
Corbels and Other Timber Work: Mid-Atlantic Timberframes
Interior Doors and Box Beams: Vintage Millwork & Restoration
Reclaimed Wood: Vintage Wood & Forged Iron
Stall Fronts: Blackwood Equestrian Stalls

Set amidst the rolling hills of Charlottesville, Virginia, Chapel Springs barn stands like a jewel in the fields. A recent renovation that pairs its historic beauty with modern amenities strengthens its timeless elegance. While the intent was to maintain the integrity of the original barn, cut- ting-edge technology was used to create a more modern facility. B&D Builders collaborated with the owners and the original builder to transform the dark and outdated barn into a space that provides comfort for both animals and riders

“It was an existing barn with really good bones,” says B&D Builders owner and founder, Daniel Glick. “We peeled back the existing finishes and applied timbers in the form of lock-mitered box beams to the existing structural membrane for a more refined finish.”

While the existing barn was very well built, it was also dark and enclosed compared to today’s standards. To overcome this, B&D proposed cutting away more than two-thirds of the center aisle roof to open up the space and incorporating Kalwall. This uplighting solution does not blind or cast shadows on the barn floor, which could potentially spook horses.

To add something dramatic, the builders proposed a barrel ceiling with “ribs” holding up the sections that were cut out and supported by a series of complex hidden steel beams and other stabilizing systems. The team incorporated reclaimed chestnut doors throughout and reclaimed white oak in the tack room, state-of-the-art washing and grooming facilities, and a complex yet highly effective ventilation system. Comfort stall mats and rolled rubber flooring add to the horses’ well-being while the architectural upgrades offer riders a graceful and inviting space.

WEST ADDY FARM: Beginning With a Clean Slate

Location: Upperville, Virginia

Builder: King Construction

Photos by King Construction Photos

West Addy farm is a high-end boutique equestrian facility in Upperville, Virginia, that offers luxurious amenities for both horse and rider. What began as raw land purchased by the owners Jim and Jamie Stokes in 2020 has transformed into a dream come true, a place they are thrilled to call home.

The main barn is 44 by 88 feet and has high ceilings for good cross ventilation. It is lined with rubber brick pavers to prevent horses from slipping. The 15 12 by 12-foot King deluxe stalls have automatic waterers and fans to keep the horses cool and hydrated. “Since this facility is used by many, the goal behind it was functionality and air circulation,” say the owners. “We had to be very strategic about where to place things such as the tack room, feed room, and wash stall, since this will all influence how well and efficiently the barn functions.”

When the opportunity came to combine their love of horses with their home, Jim and Jamie couldn’t resist. They decided to finish the second level to become a three-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment so that they wouldn’t have far to go home after a long day of riding.

The facility also has a 90 by 185-foot indoor arena with Premier Equestrian footing,
sound system, mirrors, and large windows that open for maximum airflow. No detail was overlooked: there is a full bathroom, office, work-out center, and climate controlled viewing room. A large seating area is also attached to the arena for teaching and auditing.

BONTERRA FARM: A Pinterest favorite that evolved over time.

Location: Dover, New Hampshire

Architects: Blackburn Architects

Timber Frames: Vermont Frames

The distinctive shingled barns at Bonterra Farm rest on 100 acres of wooded land located at the edge of Dover, New Hampshire. A facility specializing in Friesian horses, Bonterra is owned and operated by equestrian Blythe Brown. Blythe’s sister, Kim, is the office manager and keeps many aspects of the farm running smoothly.

Designed in 2002 by Washington, D.C.-based Blackburn Architects, the iconic equestrian facility displays the vernacular of classic New England architecture. With well-proportioned cupolas, high roof lines, and large windows, Bonterra’s 12-stall barn and matching carriage house (originally named Tidewater Farm) have long stirred the yearnings of admirers. It’s incorporated into many a Pinterest vision board.

Changing such a renowned place takes vision and courage. Brown, having both, requested the firm incorporate a new carriage house for her many antique carriages in 2022.

First was the site plan. Since Blackburn sited the original buildings in the landscape to maximize summer breezes from the southwest and minimize bitter winter winds from the northwest, the new carriage house was placed to blend seamlessly into the overall plan.

Blackburn continued to unify the structures by cladding the carriage house in wooden shingles. Painted a very dark, moody gray, the newly finished building is modern and refined. Inside, the ceilings soar to double height. The effect is of a barn and its elegant outbuildings that evolved, in picturesque fashion, over time.

To see the digital magazine version of the 2025 barn design feature, click here. To see other amazing barn designs featured in EQ Living check out our 2024 and 2023 design issues. Stay tuned for part 2 of the 2025 barn design feature.