Old Barn with Smart Technology

exterior view of renovated old barn home surrounded by western Michigan trees

Written by Erin Masercola

Photography by David Sparks and Christine Bridger

What could be better than blending an old barn home with new technology? When homeowner Christine Bridger of Company and Cottage was looking to create a vacation home for her Chicago-based family, she wanted to blend the charms of 20th-century living with cutting-edge 21st-century technology. She salvaged and restored the past by renovating this 1907 barn and incorporated new, energy-efficient materials and systems. Combine that package with professional lighting, a state-of-the-art sound setup and commercial-grade appliances, and you have what she calls “a smart barn.”

renovated old barn with smart techonology such as sound system

Re-Raising the Barn

This western Michigan barn home combines a historic property with state-of-the-art technology for a rustic getaway.

Reclaiming old barn wood for modern use is no small task, but the Bridger family was ready. “We were dedicated to preserving the history of the barn,” Christine says. “We removed all original exterior and interior siding before reframing, then put every board back up piece by piece.” Once you tear out old wood, in order to reclaim it, you must kiln dry it so it maintains its shape, sand it down to prevent splinters and spray it to get rid of the bugs you don’t want in a habitable space. The Bridgers whitewashed all the wood they used in the interior and supplemented missing pieces with newer wood. Applying vinegar to new wood can make it look aged, to match what’s been salvaged.

red door of renovated old barn with smart doorbell — A cheery, red 48-inch barn door greets visitors at the house’s front entrance. The gas light is always burning for a warm welcome. The front barn sash windows are original.

Piecing together the smaller lower-ceilinged rooms “was like playing Jenga or Tetris.”

A Tetris Floor Plan

“We wanted to stay true to the original structure,” Christine says. The high-ceilinged main living area of the home incorporates the original beams and features a 24-foot fireplace. But piecing together the smaller, lower-ceilinged rooms “was like playing Jenga or Tetris,” Christine jokes.

The main living area is two-thirds of the floor plan and three stories high—the height of the original barn. The remaining third houses the kitchen, a bathroom and a laundry room on the first floor,” three of the smallest bedrooms you’ve ever seen,” another bathroom on the second floor and a fourth bedroom loft on the third story.

old barn renovated with smart technology such as lighting TV and sound system — In the living room, a collection of color-coded books pairs with several vintage barn paintings to create a bookshelf that’s both functional and stylish.

Did you know that you can stay in this old barn with smart technology? The Bridgers rent it out through their brand, Company and Cottage.

Salvaged Chic

Aside from new appliances and a few new pieces of furniture, “everything in the barn is salvaged or collected,” Christine says. Throughout the house, you’ll see vintage, Southwestern-inspired rugs and plaid blankets. Newer pieces, such as the leather sofa, complement vintage pieces like the mint-condition, early 1900s-era safari chairs in the living room.

renovated barn home kitchen with salvaged wood and modern appliances

wide angle view of kitchen and dining room in renovated old barn with smart technology

Some pieces, like the barstools in the kitchen, were so inexpensive that Christine felt bolder about experimenting with color. The barstools were originally neutral, but she spray painted them to bring out the yellow accents in her collectible blankets.

To get this vintage lighting look, simply buy cheap sconces, remove the shades, spray paint the fixtures and pop in Edison bulbs.
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Christine is careful to blend the newer technology with the rustic setting. For example, she chose a picture-frame TV to hang above the mantel. When the TV isn’t on, it shows equestrian art or family pictures. During the pandemic, the younger members of the Bridger family have had their own creative choices for the TV’s art display. But whether the family is hunkering down to maintain social distancing or having guests over to stay, the Bridgers’ barn home is a perfect setting for vacationing in the fall.

kitchen in renovated old barn with smart technology such as beer fridge — The kitchen island used to be an old trophy case that builders doubled in size to create ample space for gathering, cooking and entertaining.

bedroom in renovated barn home with modern lighting — Black-and-white vintage blankets, with pops of red, make for a cheery bedroom.

attic room with salvaged letters and other yellow accents — Christine designed this loft bedroom for her teenage daughter. The signage is salvaged, and just happens to spell a word that seems fitting.

bunk beds with buffalo plaid bedding and scenic wall art — This little bedroom lacks a grand view, so Christine created one. One wall features a screen print of Macatawaw, where her husband spent summers as a child. Bunk beds optimize the space.

bathroom of renovated barn home with benefit of smart technology — A strategic sink fixture choice helps to maximize a small space.

living room in renovated old barn with smart technology such as TV that appears as framed art when off — When the picture-frame TV isn’t on, it blends in beautifully with the mantel and displays art or family pictures.

bedroom in renovated barn home — The family jokingly calls this spare bedroom “the mole hole.” It makes full use out of every available space. Even the raised bed frame accommodates suitcases underneath. The vintage-looking light fixtures are actually new

tile in Southwestern pattern and tub with jets in renovated barn home — Custom tile work in the bathroom evokes the patterns in the antique plaid blankets throughout the house.

deck with outdoor dining and outdoor seating in Michigan — The house’s al fresco dining and entertaining areas came in handy during this past pandemic summer.

renovated barn vacation home with metal stair railing and wooden floating stairs — The open staircase and enormous windows bring the outside in. The backs of the vintage Eames chairs were a little worn, so Christine reupholstered them with plaid blankets, which she uses throughout her décor.

Love at First Site

A stunning landscape was what first drew the Bridgers to the home Christine calls “The Little White Barn.” A babbling creek, several ravines and three bridges lend visual interest to the site. Originally, the 1907 barn was on a large plot of land, a little ways from the farmhouse. Over the years, owners split and sold the plots. The original farmhouse is now on a separate piece of property.

The Little White Barn (see the “before” photo above) sits on two wooded acres on the shores of Lake Michigan. The area is an increasingly popular spot for second homes and tourism.

Read more about the Bridgers’ old barn with new technology story over at our sister publication, Cottages and Bungalows.