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Barns, Current Projects, Lifestyle, Office Barns, Party Barns, Wedding Barns

The Millennial Love Affair With Barns

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There’s something to be said of a generation consumed by technology and innovation, yet obsessed with rustic spaces in the countryside. The trend is better known as barn-chic and it’s apparently all the rage with millennials. More so than ever, millennials are choosing barn wedding venues over traditional church settings, or generally incorporating rustic elements into their living spaces. While it may seem contradictory, millennials are definitely on to something by blending rustic design with contemporary spaces.

Barn Weddings

As mentioned earlier, more and more millennials are forgoing a traditional church wedding for one in a barn or ranch. However, this is not to be confused with a typical barn full of hay bales. Instead, these weddings are taking place in faux barns specifically designed for modern weddings. These faux barns are often decorated with brass lamps and faded couches from boutique rental companies and feature other rustic touches with a contemporary twist, such as mason jars with tea lights in place of old-timey candlesticks. The appeal is that barn weddings blend rustic with elegant touches in a way that makes each ceremony feel more personal. Essentially, it’s the experience of marrying in a luxury barn with an intimate design that appeals to millennials – not so much saying “I do” while your horse looks on.

Barn House Design

While sustainable design seems to be the frontrunner of all interior design trends adopted by millennials, barn home interiors are quickly climbing their way up the ladder. Thanks in part to Chip and Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” who popularized the idea of barndominiums, millennials have started to add more rustic décor to their living spaces to give it a barn-like feel. This can take the form of installing a barn door on the master bedroom closet or using reclaimed wood to spice up a dull white wall. When you think more about the trend itself, it makes a lot of sense – people like contemporary styles, but crave the sense of warmth and nostalgia that rustic décor brings to a space.

Upcycled Priorities

There’s no doubt about it – there’s an innate charm connected to barns. There’s something about them that reminds most of family and a slower pace of life, which might further explain why millennials could be obsessed with barns in a time where everyone needs instant gratification. More so than that, barns are near and dear to millennial’s hearts because they feel aligned to their sustainable, environmentally-friendly priorities. With renovated barns nearly breaking the internet, millennials are finding purpose in taking a decrepit barn from the ’30s and turning it into a dream residence. Even if they’re simply taking a barn door and incorporating it into their modern living space, it’s the idea of upcycling that appeals to millennials and thus makes barn-style décor such a hot commodity.

Lifestyle

Raising Kids Who Aren’t Afraid to Play Outside

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In an age where toddlers use iPads and smartphones to watch Doc McStuffins, it can be difficult for parents to motivate their children to play outside. It used to be the case that kids would gather their neighborhood friends for cul-de-sac soccer and basketball games on a daily basis. Nowadays, the average child spends about five to eight hours a day in front of a screen, opting for video games and television shows instead of rollerblading down the block. And while technology isn’t necessarily bad for children, studies show that spending plenty of time outdoors helps kids and parents lead happier and healthier lives. If you’re struggling to get your kids off the couch, here are some helpful tips that might just do the trick.

Lead By Example 

Many parents today are scared of their children playing freely outside, and for good reason. Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, kids could run off with friends without their parents even questioning where they might be. There were no cell phones or Google to answer any parental questions. Instead, parents turned to Dr. Spock as the only guide to child-rearing. These days, the challenge is that parents know too much, and therefore are too afraid of letting their kids roam the neighborhood unsupervised. However, if you want to raise kids that aren’t afraid of going outside and getting dirty, you can’t be afraid of it either. One of the best ways of combating this fear is by exploring some of your favorite outdoor spots with them. Have a favorite hike? Take them with you! There are plenty of family-friendly outdoor activities you can do together. It just requires making that extra effort to find somewhere in nature that the whole family can enjoy.

Make It Regular

Much like making the bed or putting on a seatbelt, getting your kids into the habit of playing outside is essential for their well-being and growth. If you find that inspiring them to love the outdoors feels like pulling teeth, it might be time to sign them up for sports activities or nature clubs.

Take Lessons

This can come in the form of rock climbing classes, horse riding lessons, or even signing them up for a little league sports team. Any introduction to the outdoors can be an eye-opening experience for a child, but it’s best if you can make it a part of their weekly schedule. If your kids are interested in horseback riding, we recommend getting them into an arena.

Join a Club

If your child doesn’t like sports, no need to worry. There are dozens of after-school activities that cater to every kid’s natural curiosity about the great outdoors. One of the most famous and fun organizations for young explorers are the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. The best part is that parents can be involved in group activities as well, making it a great opportunity for you and your kid to bond while camping in the woods. The National Wildlife Foundation is also an incredible resource for parents stumped on where to find nature clubs in their area. They frequently host gardening and tree planting activities in different cities around the U.S.

Give Responsibility

There’s nothing more valuable than giving kids the opportunity to be responsible for something so they can see firsthand the impact of their efforts. When I was growing up, this took the form of caring for a caterpillar and watching it grow into a butterfly in my first grade class. At home, this can mean showing your child how to garden and take care of their plants. For tips on how to encourage your kids to get into gardening, be sure to visit this article from Country Living.

Demonstrate the Value

Parents can demonstrate the value of outdoor activities by making their kids feel like they accomplished something important at the end of each adventure. For instance, if you take a three mile-long hike with your 8-year-old, you can demonstrate the value in this by giving them kudos for navigating a trail at such a young age. Or if your kid tends to a vegetable garden and sees their plants growing tomatoes, you can show them the value of their hard work by using those ripe tomatoes in a delicious recipe. As we’ve noted before, garages and workshops are also the places where hands-on trades, collection-based hobbies or active outdoor lifestyles find their homes. It’s important to show your child that their contributions to nature matter, and discover new ways of incorporating regular outdoor activities that add meaning to their lives.

Embrace Spontaneity

While it’s ideal for children to be involved in regular outdoor activities, sometimes the best kinds of activities are those that aren’t planned. As mentioned earlier, it used to be the case that neighborhood kids would get together for activities on the block, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be that way again. If a kid in the neighborhood asks your kids to play basketball, let them! It’s healthy for children to make connections with kids in the neighborhood. And who knows? Maybe that neighbor kid will turn out to be their lifelong best friend.

 

Barn Homes, Barns, Barns with Living Quarters, Lifestyle

Why Living in the Country is Better

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There’s always a trade-off when it comes to where you decide to live. City dwellers often sacrifice clean air and cheaper rent for endless job opportunities and easy public transit while rural residents abandon convenient access to popular shops for sprawling green pastures. Urbanites may argue that country folks have the short end of the stick, considering there are less conventional entertainment options in a rural setting, but research shows that people living in the country are generally happier than those living in a city. If you’re questioning your decision to live in a city, here are some reasons why country living might be a better fit for your lifestyle.

More Space

In expensive places like San Francisco and Manhattan, the average median home price is a whopping $1.2 to $1.3 million. In rural areas, you’re not only able to find a home for about a quarter of that price, but can acquire quite a bit of land along with it. And with that extra square footage comes more space to do the things you want, like own horses or build a workshop in your back of your property. City dwellers are lucky if they get a fraction of the backyard space.

A Sense of Freedom

In addition to paying less for more land, homeowners in rural areas have little restriction on what they can and cannot do on their property in comparison to those living in the city. Property development in metropolitan areas is restricted by more stringent local and regional codes, often making it difficult to build on your existing property. So even those who have the luxury of walking to work or the grocery store won’t be able to enjoy the same privacy and agency as someone living in the country. However, there are still some restrictions, even in the most rural areas. It’s important to read up on the property laws in your individual city and state before planning your next construction project.

Access to Nature

One of the biggest draws to living in the country is having the ability to immerse yourself in nature. Those who live in rural areas can own sizable, verdant properties surrounded by lush trees and rivers – a scarce occurrence in concrete jungles. Rural residents can also enjoy the peace and quiet that less populated areas offer. Instead of hiding out in your bathroom to get some much needed alone time, those living in the country can simply go outside and look up at the starry sky as a means of de-stressing. Another plus is having access to organic, fresh food grown on nearby farms. While city dwellers have the convenience of fast food restaurants and farmers markets at their fingertips, country folks are able to buy locally-sourced meat, fruit, and vegetables without paying big city prices.

Community Bonds

Lastly, living in the country means getting to know your neighbors and everyone else in the community on a more personal level. It’s said that less crime occurs in rural areas because people know everyone in the community and are generally better at looking out for their neighbors. More than that, neighbors in a rural setting have to be able to rely on one another. They’re often more open to making new friends, while city dwellers have a hard time just talking to their next door neighbor of many years. And if someone knocks on your door at 10 p.m. at night, it’s likely a friend hoping to hang out, and not necessarily a murderer!

Construction, Post and Beam, Timber Frame

Urbanizing Heavy Timber Helps Everyone

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Being an all custom timber framing company doesn’t force us into any particular category. The projects we’ve tackled here at DC Builders have ranged from the residential to commercial. Timber framing itself has been around for decades, but the concept can be found in many different contexts, even urban ones.

The aptly named “Framework” building is a 90,000 sq. ft. 12-story mixed-use project, anticipated to be the first high-rise in the US incorporating timber from the ground floor for load bearing construction. The project is aimed to illustrate an ecological and sustainable relationship between urban development and rural economic growth both regionally and nationally.

A cross-laminated timber core makes up the Framework’s backbone. Wood interiors are exposed at the ground floor. Glass enclosed around the core allows visitors and occupants to observe it no matter which floor you happen to be on. Interestingly enough, this unique configuration also serves as a heat recovery system. These features are engineered to accentuate the innovative nature of this elegant city structure, making this an ideal addition to any skyline.

Retail and public exhibitions will occupy the ground floor of this multi-use building, in addition to 60 units of affordable housing. Residents who apply and earn less than 60 percent of the area median income will be able to enjoy exposed wooden features, an aesthetic seen throughout heavy timber framing. What sets this project apart is the logistical support around this building’s construction.

Stimulating this project is a symbiotic relationship between rural timber industries, the natural resources provided to them, and the cities that drive the need for projects like the Framework. This artificially creates a demand for these projects, manifesting opportunity for those in surrounding rural communities.

Oregon once boasted a healthy economy based around timber harvesting. Wheeler County’s population has decreased dramatically since the Kinuza Lumber mill closed in 1978. Wages in a town like Fossil, Oregon, in Wheeler, have decreased 40 percent since then. Currently, only 1,300 people live in the entire county. A return to timber might not bring a community like this back, but projects with a more mindful logistical sense probably could.

Construction, Post and Beam, Timber Frame

Post-and-Beam Structures: What We’re Made Of

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Post-and-beam structures are timeless investments that last for generations. It’s hard to entertain this idea during a time when composite material engineered to increase buying power dominates the builder’s market.

What makes timber frame buildings economical is their longevity. A properly treated wood post-and-beam structure can last decades, if not centuries. The Temple of the Flourishing Law in Japan’s Nara Prefecture region has withstood 1,400 years worth of earthquakes, rain, wind and even fire.

Timber ladened structures are typically only a quarter of the weight when compared to a concrete reinforced structure. According to some studies, wood material can also reduce their carbon footprint by 60-75 percent.

Recent years have conceived advanced leaps in engineered wood. Cross laminated timber (CLT) made from layers of timber sections glued together with grains at right angles to one another can be just as robust as concrete.

A firm of architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill teamed up with the folks at Oregon State University, to demonstrate just how durable CLT engineered wood can be. After attacking the floor with a powerful hydraulic press, they discovered it had a load tolerance of 82,000 pounds, which was eight times more than what it was designed to support.

Not all projects come standard with CLT. Only the largest and most structurally dynamic buildings require such reinforcement. That said, the majority of our arenas come standard with CLT integrated within its timber frame construction. Oregon post-and-beam structures, like the this one in Bend, have been the only exception thus far.

Don’t be shy to voice any concerns when it comes to the structural integrity of your post-and-beam home. The in-house design team would be happy to include these features into your barn home or barn event plans. Get a free quote today, find out just how gutsy we can make your structure.

 

Construction, Post and Beam, Timber Frame

Building Workshop/Garage Structures For Wineries and Breweries

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Having our headquarters located in the Pacific Northwest means we’re always blessed with natural beauty from our surrounding agriculture. Perhaps our most popular relationships encompass those in the business of making vices. After all, white wines from Washington and reds from Oregon are virtually unparalleled elsewhere in the U.S.

From production to tasting rooms, we have designed and built some of the finest post-and-beam structures for some of the pickiest sommeliers, down to the stoutest of wine makers.

Evesham Wood Vineyards in Salem, Oregon needed a place for both productive ventures and pleasures. Occupying the property is a Voyager 84’ workshop and garage kit, provided by our partner company DC Structures. As you can see, the folks at Evesham have taken stock of their wine facility’s structural reliability to protect and age their product.

Sharing the property is a custom designed tasting room, where people gather to sample wine in a 5,040 sq. ft. structure made of Pacific Northwest Douglas fir. A commercial building for a winery requires specifications you won’t see in any other agricultural industry.

Vineyards across the Northwest have trusted us to ensure aesthetic appeal while maintaining proper structural compliance with local and state regulations. A glass of wine at the end of a long day doesn’t need an excuse, and neither do your business needs. If you’re looking into expanding production, look no further than DC Builders. Get a free quote today!

Construction

Floor Plans: Blueprints for the Future

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When it comes to planning for a new construction project, things get really exciting when the floor plans start to take shape. The blueprints for what will soon become your dream structure enable you to better imagine what you’ll be walking into after all is said and done.

DC Builders boasts a flexible and inventive design team, and is supported by the best design and communication software on the market. With more than 15 years of experience with the design and construction of timber frame homes, we are highly skilled in post-and-beam designs.

Every floor plan we draft is crafted around the unique vision of our clients. We’ve designed floor plans for residential homes, commercial buildings, and equestrian facilities, meaning we’re especially qualified to offer guidance on what’s effective and what could be improved.

We offer turnkey construction services, but we’re happy to accommodate your need for standalone services. Between creating floor plans from scratch, modifying existing plans, or building the complete blueprints you’ve obtained from another designer, we’re happy to help.

If you have drawings that were authored by another architect, or even a vague idea sketched out on scratch paper or a napkin, go ahead and send them our way. Otherwise, take a look at some other blueprints we’ve created and imagine the possibilities for your own floor plans.

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Ready to get serious about your project? Request a free quote today.

Barns, Equestrian

Tack Room Planning: Getting The Most Out Of A DC Barn

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Tack rooms are a barn’s mission control—the place where equestrian gear is organized and stored. “Tack” is a term that describes accessories for all things horse. Saddles, bridles, bits, wraps, blankets—these are all considered tack.

Dimension and size depends on what one needs from their equine facility. Knowing how many horses you plan to stable will give you a better idea of scope, as will what discipline you plan on riding in. Draft horses require a slightly different set of needs compared to a horse bred for eventing. A discipline that requires just as much tack as it does tact.

Tack room location should be based on convenience. The goal is to minimize as many steps between the stable and pasture as possible, while keeping any breezeways clear. Take a look at these floor plans from a project currently being built in Franktown, Colorado.

The 478 sq. ft. tack room was placed between two walkways, to ease traffic flow, while also creating the perfect staging areas. A powder room annexed near two wash bays gives a rider the chance to pack everything away efficiently while further mitigating irregular traffic flow from the breezeway below.

People approach us with all kinds of ideas, ones that usually incorporate a hybridization of many facets from riding life. We dare you to take these fundamental components of a tack room, and go a step further. Don’t just stop at a sink or saddle rack or bridle shelves. Why not put your office in one? How about a loft for extra storage/sleeping quarters? Just make sure you imagination doesn’t get in the way of your breezeway.

Ready to put your creative vision into action? Request a free quote today.

Construction

Keeping It Rural With Your Structure

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Urban areas across the country have been dieting on land restrictions for the past decade. In 2016, a link was discovered between land use regulations and increases in housing cost. Many people may not be surprised by this. Rising housing costs and stagnant wages are forcing people out in the suburbs, pushing them farther into rural zones. Now more than ever is the best time to purchase land in these areas. Breaking new ground with us is an exciting endeavor, but we want you to be conscious of some things before you move ahead.

Check With Your Local Department of Natural Resources

A property with a wetland designation can fall under special protections. Developing on this designation can spell significant financial loss. Many city slickers make this mistake. In one case, a man setting himself up for retirement was forced to pay $72,750 in violation fees after developing on land he had purchased in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Wetland protections maintain their key ecological features. A wetland can help regulate pollutants and buffer flooding zones while providing habitats for many lifeforms. You won’t see these regulations disappear anytime soon, so it’s important you check for this designation before breaking ground.

Another question you can ask is if the property falls under an “open” land policy, rather than a closed one. Having an open policy means you could qualify for a tax break.

Township Ordinances

These vary depending on where you live. Local municipalities regulate burning permits, weapon restrictions, and other trivial rules we follow in our day-to-day lives. Cities are much more zealous with these low-level policies. Ensuring you don’t find yourself trapped in with small-town regulation might defeat the purpose of moving out to the country in the first place.

Checking County Property Records

Regardless of a town’s size, there’s always an archive somewhere deep in its records detailing a property’s history. Knowing how many times it was on the market can be a good indicator of a few things. Additionally, knowing how much was originally taken out, price drops, add-ons, etc. can really help leverage you into getting a good deal. The big thing you should be looking for is market retention. How many times has this land been on and off the market? If it’s often, then there is probably a red flag in there somewhere.

While you’re digging around, be on the lookout for easements or other conditions on your property. Older land claims can sometimes come with certain conditions, like land stakes taken out by companies or government agencies. Finding an easement on a property could mean there’s a shared portion. Typically, this isn’t something to really worry about. All this means is that your road might be used by the public to get somewhere else.  

Who’s Living Nearby?

The last thing you want is to end up living next to a fracking site. You can find out who your neighbors are or will be, by looking them up in the county’s tax records. Once you find some names, plug them into a search engine; there’s no shame in wanting to know.

Factors that Affect Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance is a necessity for anyone taking on a post and beam structure with us. Prices for insurance rates fluctuate depending on various factors.

Heating options such as the number of fireplaces, whether or not if your using gas versus electricity.

Your proximity to emergency services can actually make a huge difference in price. Living next to a fire station specifically, has the advantage of possibly saving you thousands. A class 10 property paying $2,000 a year can be reduced to a class 5,  which warrants a 50% discount.

Owning livestock is another random variable that unfortunately effects the price of homeowners insurance. Like fireplaces, the price mainly depends on the type and amount of livestock on your property.

Finding out which real estate tier you fall into can also be a helpful thing to know. The main differences between tiers are largely classified by the level of development taking place in a particular area. For example, a tier I status means your property is in a highly developed area, surrounded by plenty of services such as schools and hospitals. A tier III would be the opposite, the kind of designation used to describe underdeveloped rural areas. Call your insurance agent or local real estate broker to see which tier you fall under.

 

Garage with Living Quarters

DC’s Garage Home Greatest Hits

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Blurring the lines between traditional residential living and a sense of farm raised pragmaticism is our specialty. You won’t find any redundancy in our designs, because no two are alike. Our diverse portfolio offers you a look at just how willing we are to flex and bend your dream into a reality.

Decision paralysis can definitely arise when deliberating during the initial design phase of a concept. A bricolage of options still awaits after you decide on that basic floor plan. Sometimes, jumping right in is really the best approach.

Garages and workshops have become a specialty over the course of our 15 years experience in construction. Many past structures revolve around this as a key feature in their design. Barns were originally designed to operate as a place for dry storage. Today, you can put anything imaginable in your barn home, apartment barn, barndominium, or whatever you decide will enhance your lifestyle. From drive-through RV garages to a built-in gun safes, the possibilities are plenty.

Here are some of our garage home highlights.

Artisan Details

At a project’s end, if you are not seeing yourself in its construction, then we did something wrong. This custom timber frame apartment barn in Sandy, Oregon, has the client’s lifestyle at center. You can see this philosophy come into practice as soon as you’re confronted with its two massive 12’x14’ iron hinged doors. Behind them rests the pinnacle of recreation: a 40 ft. RV trailer, with plenty of space leftover for these lucky weekend warriors and their workshop.

Home Run

This stunning design looks right at home on the edge of the Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. Equal parts practical and elegant, this functional garage home enjoys scenic views and a touch of mystery. Below this structure’s living quarters is a barn-style garage in front of a 1,965 sq. ft. garage, large enough for both an RV and truck. Behind the two 13’ 6” overhead doors you will also find a built-in gun safe near a faux wall near a secret door. This garage-shop combo is another unique result from clients who weren’t afraid to use their imaginations.

The Classics

We are proud of our diverse portfolio, and of that fact that “unconventional” is a word that gets tossed around a lot in regards to our hybridized homes. This custom house design is a little different from our usual creations, but it emphasizes our versatility as a custom design and build firm. With ample storage space in addition to its 856 sq. ft. three-car garage, this structure is the classic home done right.

Ready to build a custom home or garage apartment of your own? Request a free quote to get started today.