An 1850s structure in Westport easily accommodated horses in its day, but not modern-day automobiles. The owners of this former guest unit, situated above the garage, envisioned it being reborn as the working studio for their firm, Robson Leonard Design—though a cleverly concealed bed that fits into a sliding drawer enables the space to still function as a residence, if need be.
The renovation process involved lifting the barn structure and adding a new support system below, which allowed Deirde O’Farrelly Architects to expand the footprint. In redesigning the interior spaces, they were able to create a working kitchen and tiled full bathroom. An interior staircase was then added, as well as a small pool house and a picturesque potting shed.
It started off as a father–daughter project: the restoration of a 250-year-old barn in New Canaan that had been part of Peyton Cochran’s family for decades. Soon, though, the whole family was involved in what became a reinvention of the 1,000-square-foot structure. After a careful feasibility study, it was determined that the only way to save the barn was to take it down and rebuild it, but in a new way. Using the original beams, siding and doors, along with planks made from an old tree on the property, the barn has re-emerged as a home, complete with two bedrooms, a bathroom, painting studio, kitchen/pantry and a wet bar. Even the dining table and coffee table were fashioned from some of the original beams and floor panels.
Many features of an Essex property appealed to a young family as a locale for a second home, but it was a hilltop apartment, situated over a detached garage, that sealed the deal. The owners imagined the renovated space as a retreat for their weekend guests, in-laws or nanny. In creating the diminutive, but evocative space—complete with a bedroom, full bath, and living and dining areas—interior designers from Denemede, along with J.P. Franzen Associates Architects and Buttendorf Building & Remodeling, made use of reclaimed barn wood that had traces of its original red paint. Poured concrete kitchen countertops, a porcelain farm sink and handsome subway tiles complement the rustic warmth of the vaulted ceiling. Sliding barn doors and wire-brushed wood floors reinforce the prevailing sophisticated rustic aesthetic.