Layout your Yankee Barn Home

A custom floor plan evolves from many ideas and a number of conversations, from doodling on the back of an envelope to more formal schematics and "blue-prints."

The turn key cost of our homes is between $180-$250 and up per square foot, not including the cost of the land and site work. A 2,000 sf Yankee Barn Home costs between $360,000-$500,000. On this page, our planners have put together information that can help you create your initial floor plan. The information is general but comes from over thirty years of designing and building Yankee Barn homes.

Please choose design features you would like to see in your new home and then send your selections to us.

We will review your design ideas and send you some sample floor plans based on Yankee Barn homes we've built over the years.

Home Site

Your site will influence where rooms are located to take advantage of views, sunlight, road access, and perhaps to maximize privacy. A sloping lot may create an opportunity for a walkout basement. You do not need to own your site to begin design, however you will want it to finalize your plans.

Square Feet

Usage options and total cost are implicit in the square feet planned for your home. To the extent that your budget permits, keep the square foot question open for a while. The ultimate cost of the house is also determined by your finishing selections.

The turnkey cost for a Yankee Barn typically is $180-$250 and up per square foot, (count 25% of a garage, 25% of covered porches and 150% of floor space under vaulted ceilings as square feet).

Two thousand square feet is regarded as the minimum size for a three bedroom two bath home. Yankee Barns tend to range from about two thousand square feet to six thousand plus square feet.

Architectural Composition

The length of a Yankee Barn tends to be forty-five to sixty feet long. The width of the main structure is typically twenty-five feet, twenty-six feet, or thirty feet wide. The main structure's first floor is readily widened up to about eight feet by extending the roof line out to the side. The main structure's first or second floor can also be expanded with the use of dormers. Most Yankee Barns extend the living space with ells, wings and connectors.

Bedrooms

Regardless of the size of the house, three bedrooms are typical with an occasional two or four bedroom home. A small bedroom might be nine feet by ten feet. A medium size bedroom might be twelve feet by twelve feet. A larger bedroom might be thirteen feet by fifteen feet. Today's bedroom may become tomorrow's study or library.

Baths

Yankee Barns tend to have three baths with an occasional four-bathroom house and two-bathroom house. Guest baths (half baths) are separate from sleeping areas.

Great Room

Great rooms are generally placed on the end of the house in the center or in an ell.

End great rooms lend well to the gable end of the house pointing to a view and are most cost effective. Center great rooms work well when the great room wants to be the center of all activity and the view is on the eaves side of the house (Center great rooms use a large multi- storied dormer or a bump out dormer). Great rooms can also be located in an ell, which is the most expensive because the structure is one story.

Dining Room

A small dining room might be ten feet by twelve feet. A medium size dining room might be fifteen feet by seventeen feet.

Kitchen

Kitchens can be fairly private or in the hub of home activity. The kitchen needs to be a little larger if more than one person is preparing food at a time. For people who love to cook a pantry is nice. Pantries tend to be either closet or walk-in. The kitchen should be located with easy access to the driveway for unloading purposes. There are two basic approaches we most often see as to how the kitchen relates to other areas. They often depend on a need for privacy, or not, and a sense of aesthetics.

Breakfast Area

Larger homes may set aside space for eating breakfast in the areas listed below.

Laundry

Laundry areas can be located on the first floor, second floor or basement.

Mudroom

For families with children or people who love to garden, the mudroom is a fine way to keep the great outdoors where it belongs. Mudrooms are often close to the garage.

Master Bedroom

Master bedrooms can be located in the main house or in ells. The considerations are usually size and privacy requirements. The main house location is generally more economical than an ell or wing.

Master Bedroom Bath

Bathrooms can range from the simplicity of a sink and a tub to a more elaborate design including a separate compartment for the toilet and for two sinks.

Fireplace

Fireplaces primarily serve aesthetic purposes. Fireplace location needs to be considered along with views to the outside and furniture placement.

Basements

Basements can provide additional living space, especially on sloped lots where a walkout (daylight basement) can be provided. The space can be used for mechanical room, storage, family rooms, laundry room, and even bedrooms, or workshops. If you are using basement space you may need to add additional windows, walkout doors or a bulkhead.

Garages

Garages are typically twenty-four feet by twenty-four feet, which allow for two cars and additional storage. Garages can be expanded to have additional second floor space by adding knee walls to the second floor level or by adding dormers. For economy or because of a difficult site you may choose to place your garage under the main home.

Stairs

Stairs are most often L-shaped, U-shaped, or straight. Stairs are challenging in home design because the vertical axis comes very much into play. Below is a checklist Yankee Barn considers while laying out a stair:

• Are usually located in the center of the home or along the eave wall.
• Stack your basement stairs below the main stairway.
• Require three foot three inches square open area at the top and bottom to provide access to the other living area.
• Stairs in the entry need to be four to five feet from doors and walls. Stairs are three feet six inches wide. As ceilings get taller you need more steps and risers (Each step adds 10" more to the length of the stairs).
• Stairs need to be designed to have proper headroom under the ceiling so the stairs do not end under a sloped ceiling that is less than six feet eight inches high.