10 Beautiful Homes Converted From/Or Inspired By Barns

Large barn doors have been making their way into homes for a few years now. They give spaces a great rustic feel and are a way to bring natural materials into spaces.

These homes inspired by or converted from old barns take that to the extreme, in a good way.

If you're not familiar with barns, you're missing out. The structures are so simple but they have great functionality and personality. No two are the same and the more use they get, the more their character develops.

American Profile called Dale Lehmer, owner of Antique Woods and Colonial Restorations (AWCR), one of the "founding fathers of the barn-saving movement." He has been working on antique homes and barns for about 40 years and has helped disassemble old barns, repurposed or restored them and designed many barn homes.

"Many folks ask me what are the qualities to look for in an antique barn frame when you want to build a barn and particularly a barn-home conversion," Lehmer said on the AWCR website. "This is a very good question as there are many differences in barn frames, they are not all alike. We realize that every project is unique and may require different kinds of barns with many different components."

Working on such a home might seem simple, but it requires unique expertise.

"Although the antique barn-home-lumber business is not necessarily complicated rocket science, there are many aspects of it that are not obvious or merely common sense to builders or architects with little or no experience in this specific field," according to AWCR.

The time and effort behind a home converted or inspired by a barn pays off in the end. These places are enviable.

Here are Design & Trend's favorite barn homes via Pinterest.

"Do not let a flattering woman coax and wheedle you and deceive you; she is after your barn." — Hesoid.