Embarking on this journey of building a new barndominium or even renovating an existing one can be an exciting time for anyone. To bring your dream home to life, you’ll need detailed floor plans that serve as a blueprint for the construction process, a step by step instructional guide for your builder to follow if you will. Fortunately, in today’s digital age, there are numerous resources available online and offline to help you find the perfect floor plan design for even the more unique options, like barndominium plans.
Barndominiums are gaining in popularity and are often misunderstood. In this comprehensive article about barndominiums by Redfin, BuildMax said, “Modern barndominiums are defined as a style of architecture that combines country, farmhouse, and modern design, drawing inspiration from traditional barns.”
In this article we will explore the various places you can locate some of the better quality, more detailed plans around, specifically geared towards modern barndominiums. This will empower you to design an ideal space that suits your lifestyle and needs, as well as provide you with a stylish timeless design that will appeal to many demographics.
Online Architectural Design Platforms
Buildmax.com is a great place to start when looking for a barndominium floor plan. Not only do they have dozens of pre-designed plans, they modify those plans and even draw up custom ones. This is one of the most convenient and popular options for finding house plans, floor plans, and barndominium plans. These online platforms often provide advanced search filters, allowing you to narrow down your options based on square footage, architectural style, number of rooms, and more. You can browse through various designs, view detailed floor plans, and even interact with 3D models and a life-like virtual walkthrough of the plan to get a comprehensive understanding of the layout.
Architectural Magazines and Books
Barnes & Noble is a fantastic resource if you’re just getting started and need to get some information under your feet. House plan magazines are plentiful on the shelves and can keep you busy for hours, compiling a collection of your top floor plan designs. Architectural magazines and books remain valuable sources for discovering unique and innovative house plans. Publications like Architectural Digest, Dwell, and House Beautiful showcase stunning homes and often provide detailed floor plans alongside inspirational photographs.
These resources can help you gather ideas, explore different architectural styles, and understand the functionality and flow of different designs. Local bookstores, libraries, and online retailers offer a wide range of architectural publications to explore and it continues to be a top trusted source for individuals in the market for barndominium floor plans.
Custom Architectural Firms
You may be overwhelmed by the number of architectural firms in your area; they tend to be highly concentrated in populated areas for good reason. BuildMax is more along the lines of a floor plan company; however, they do design custom modifications to their existing floor plans. If you would like plans custom designed from scratch, you’ll be peering into another price bracket; custom designed plans won’t be the most economical option for someone on a budget. I prefer to find an existing floor plan that is as similar to what I want as possible and go from there with a few simple modifications, maybe move some walls around, or enlarge certain rooms of the house. This is a more economical option than starting a plan from scratch and you’ll probably be just as happy with the end result.
If you have a specific vision in mind or require a custom design tailored to your unique needs, hiring an architectural firm is an excellent option. Professional architects can work closely with you to develop a personalized plan that reflects your lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, and budget. They will consider factors such as the building site, local regulations, and your specific requirements to create a design that meets your expectations. Collaborating with an architectural firm ensures that your barndominium floor plans are entirely original and crafted to your exact specifications.
These projects are many times out of the scope of most companies you will find selling floor plans online as they are typically only selling a stock digital download. You will want to find an actual architect for this type of detailed work. Something to keep in mind with this option, however, is that it can be very costly to go this route.
Online Communities and Forums
These groups centered around home design and construction can be an invaluable resource for someone new to the barndominium space. Not only finding new llans & design ideas but also having the ability to bounce those ideas off your peers for confirmation or criticism is an excellent resource to leverage. Websites like Reddit, Houzz Forums,and HomeTalk, as well as social media groups all have very active informed communities where homeowners, architects, and designers share their experiences, insights, and even floor plans. By participating in these communities, you can engage in discussions, seek recommendations, and potentially find individuals willing to share their plans or offer guidance based on their own projects.
Local Building Associations
In many areas, local building associations or home builder associations can provide resources for finding floor plans, builders, sub-contractors, and more. These associations often have libraries or databases of plans available to their members. Additionally, they may host events or workshops where you can interact with builders, architects, and other professionals in the industry who can guide you towards reputable sources for acquiring plans. Other members could potentially guide you to some professionals they have had previous experience with; word of mouth is usually the best way to find reliable work in most local areas.
Finding the perfect floor plans or barndominium design is an essential step towards creating your dream home. You can’t do much real work towards your dream home until you have those plans in your hand. Once you have your floor plans you can start to show them to builders around your area to begin getting some preliminary pricing moving forward. The availability of online platforms, architectural magazines, custom architectural firms, online communities, and local building associations all offer a wealth of resources to explore.
Take the time to do the actual research required for your build and discover the plan that aligns with your vision, budget, and lifestyle. With the right plan in hand, you’ll be well on your way to building a barndominium that embodies your unique style and meets all your practical needs, a true dream home.
