The Unique & Rustic Character of Gambrel Roof House Plans

The essence of a Barn invokes strong nostalgic memories of hardworking farmers, simpler times working the land to care for one’s family, and the comfort of strong family ties. Drawing from this inspiration has made a living in a Barn home design one of wonder and astonishment not found in any other style.

Exterior Appearances

Gambrel roof house plans are some of the most creative and inspirational house styles we have available. No longer just a style designed for storage, livestock, or other farm equipment essentials, the Barn home design has been redefined as a unique domicile for functional human habitation. From its traditional red, rustic exterior, house designers have branched out to create Barn styles ranging from Rustic Cabins to Country homes to white Modern Farmhouse plans. Encompassing traditional and signature Barn elements, today’s Barn house plans are laid out to fit the needs of the modern family.

BARN HOUSE PLAN 348-00303

Characteristics and Features

Drawing from its original “down-home” and comforting nature, our Barn house plans have been designed with great attention to detail and superior craftsmanship. These house plans satisfy all the needs any modern homeowner could want while also providing an attractive exterior countenance. 

Typical exterior features of Gambrel Roof House Plans include:

Gambrel Roofs

A staple of a symbolic barn home design is the gambrel roof. A gambrel roof is a two-sided, symmetrical roof that has two slopes on each side. This roof style provides aesthetic appeal and is cost-effective due to its simple design and fewer required materials, saving labor, time, and maintenance costs*. 

BARN HOUSE PLAN 8318-00117

Voluminous Ceiling Heights

A key architectural feature of our Barn house plans is the two-story ceilings. Gambrel and other steeply pitched roofs help to provide plenty of ceiling height, while dormer windows add more roof space. The surplus of space is ideal for incorporating a loft or second-story bedrooms overlooking the great room and kitchen. 

BARN HOUSE PLAN 009-00354

Wrap-around and Extended Porches 

Wrap-around porches and extended porches are a favorite feature for many homeowners. While they are not found in classic Barn architecture, they have been incorporated to provide expansive outdoor entertaining. Due to their high demand and popularity, home designers have added these extended spaces for family and friends to gather in comfort and enjoy social events and special occasion celebrations. Extended porches are even great for solo relaxation, where you can pick any spot on the porch where the sun hits you just right, or the breeze is so perfect that you can enjoy letting time pass you by as you sink into leisurely pleasure.

MODERN FARMHOUSE HOUSE PLAN 6849-00064

Wood

Wood and Barns go hand in hand with each other like animals on a farm. The reason is because of the many benefits wood framing and siding have in relation to building a Barn: 

• It sustains the rustic appeal of Barn home designs
• It is easy to paint
• Exposed wood beams in the interior add to the architectural interest and alluring appeal.
• It is simple to install and replace**
• With proper care, wood siding can last through natural elements of changing seasons** 

Barn-Style Windows and Doors

A flaw lacking in traditional Barns is the number of windows. Our Barn house plans showcase a surplus amount of windows allowing for comfortable and scenic living. Barn doors have become a popular trend that has taken the ordinary, functional sliding doors and turned them into beautiful statement pieces that add to the aesthetic pleasure of any room.

BARN HOUSE PLAN 5032-00119

Lofts

The voluminous ceiling heights found in many of our Barn house plans create an awesome opportunity to add a loft area. These structures are great because they create square footage on the second floor without altering the mezzanine level. Also, because lofts require large open spaces, they can create a demand for more windows ranging in various sizes to allow for an abundance of natural light to radiant through. Be sure to also check out Garage Plans with lofts if you want to keep your current home but add a detached garage space with a loft.

MOUNTAIN RUSTIC HOUSE PLAN 8504-00151

Silos 

Though not the most common, adding a silo is an architectural feature that will make your Barn house plan stand out and add remarkable value. Adding a silo is not only an aesthetic pleasure but is also functional as either a stairwell, office, a breakfast nook, or a library.

BARN HOUSE PLAN 009-00318

Exposed Support Beams

Looking through our Gambrel Roof house plans, you’ll notice many of them highlight exposed beams to create beautiful ceiling structures such as coffered ceilings, vaulted ceilings, etc. These exposed structures are for the sole purpose of adding value, appeal, and ceiling height to your Barn home design.

BARN HOUSE PLAN 8318-00115

Open Floor Plans

Open floor plans are another homeowner favorite because this layout offers a better traffic flow where people can move freely through the common rooms by eliminating doors and walls, including the kitchen, dining room, and great room. This layout also encourages sociability and communication between family members, which makes watching and instructing the kids while cooking in the kitchen much easier.

With so many unique and creative features, our Modern or Rustic Barn house plans are designed to not only be functional for the modern homeowner’s needs but are also designed to live in beautifully crafted homes. If you stumble upon a Barn home design that is almost perfect but needs a few changes, we can modify any house plan to fit your exact needs. To learn more about modifications and how to go about making changes, check out our modifications page.

*” A Crash Course in Gambrel Roofs” 

*”4 Surprising Benefits of Wood Siding”