The Barn Yard Blog

In the hills of Vermont, a customer wanted a hobby space to work on vintage cars and start a wood shop. He chose a Plymouth Carriage Barn as his ideal structure. Thanks to the versatility of the Plymouth’s design, he has plenty of space for hobbies. A vibrant siding, plenty of windows, a partial loft, and three gable dormers make this barn unique, suited to the customer’s needs. Spanish Cedar doors—both overhead and entry—lead inside. Let’s take a closer look.

This 20' x 24' Alpine Timber Frame Pavilion has an open 12' reverse gable dormer and overlooks an incredible view of the Vermont countryside. The Alpine Pavilion, with its dramatic hammer beam trusses and black powder-coated steel straps, is a functional and eye-catching space to host family and friends. The customer added a stone fireplace on one side of the pavilion, as well as a seating area, to keep guests warm. In the center of the pavilion, a large table with even more seating is ideal for hosting large meals. The open gable dormer provides an unobstructed view of the Vermont sky, with the breathtaking views of Vermont in the distance. 

There’s beauty in simplicity. At first glance of this 32' x 32' Lenox Carriage Barn in Southern Connecticut, you’ll see a serene, modest appearance. But, with a closer look, you will notice the fine details that truly make this barn special. High-class features, versatile design, and an ideal location make this barn extraordinary. Read on for a photo tour of this barn in the spring, plus extra photos of this barn in the fall. 

A walk down Main Street of a small Vermont town gives a look into the past, with historic buildings and colonial homes surrounded by the sights of fall. This 24' x 30' Newport Garage fits right in with bright foliage and crisp air—quintessential autumn in New England. The owner of a historic home wanted a two-story garage that both complemented the property and preserved its traditional feel. The result: this outstanding 24' x 30' Newport Garage, combining modern architecture and timeless features. With two gable dormers, white vinyl clapboard siding, and black shutters, this garage is classic New England. Even though the garage is brand new, it fits the centuries old style of this small New England town, enhanced even more by the fall colors.

From tree to timber frame, watch as this engineering marvel takes flight. With timbers as large as 12x16x24' long, teamwork & heavy machinery were essential for this build. Eight timber trusses were built by the crew on the ground, with each completed truss weighing 10,000 pounds and spanning 76' with no interior posts. A trio of cranes lifted the trusses, purlins, and roof rafters in place as the crew worked tirelessly among the timbers, mallets & oak pegs in hand, securing each post & beam with authentic timber frame joinery. To span 76' with heavy timber is near record setting. Powder coated steel angled turnbuckles, metal strapping, and traditional joinery with oak pegs all come together in the unique and airplane-inspired design.

Our 6^th Open House was a success. Visitors from across New England—and from as far as Michigan— came by to experience The Barn Yard’s Timber Frame Facility, from a tour of our corporate offices, to a presentation from the Design Team, CNC demonstrations, and a live build of a Gallatin Cabin. We were excited to share the passion and dedication to the timber framing craft with all who attended. We hope you left with more knowledge of timber framing, inspiration to start a post & beam project of your own, or a little bit of both. Check out these recap photos from the Open House.

An engineering marvel! Comprised of eight timber frame trusses clear spanning nearly 76', this airplane hangar is near record setting. Our entire crew came together to raise this one-of-a-kind timber frame airplane hangar. This was a landmark raising for The Barn Yard. Take a look at some of the pictures from the raising.

This 64' x 152' timber frame barn is nothing short of spectacular—a perfect fit for the plains of Iowa. From design to engineering, no detail was overlooked. We wanted this barn to fit the Iowa plains, so we opted for a gambrel-style roofline and double lean-tos off both sides. A 32' x 32' bump out was added to welcome visitors to the barn, with space for cars to drive through while dropping off guests. We cut the timbers for the barn on our CNC machines and handfinished every timber to perfection before shipping out to Iowa. Our crew flew out to Iowa to raise the frame. It is a magnificent place to host events, sure to impress all those who enter and gaze upward at 40' of timber frame perfection, with every timber & oak peg working together to create a masterpiece. Let’s take a closer look.

Authentic and precise timber frame joinery everywhere you look. With detailed timber frame construction, a timber frame gable accent, and a single story, the Gallatin Cabin is truly versatile. It features the exact same authentic joinery as our larger Carriage Barns, making it a true post & beam cabin. Horseshoe hardware on the sliding door and timber show truss add to the post and beam details. Read on for a closer look at this cabin.

With a long, storied past dating back to 1909, the Salisbury Beach Carousel is an iconic piece of history. We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to construct a 70' Timber Frame Octagon to host this carousel, with a clear span design, soaring beams, and a timber frame cupola. Step inside the octagon and it takes your breath away. A beautiful, complex tangle of timbers is overhead with evidence of precision design & extensive engineering everywhere you look. The sheer size of the timbers joined together seemingly effortlessly is inspiring and reassuring at the same time. You get the sense that you’re standing in the midst of something special. Read on for a photo tour of this incredible structure.