Ready to be inspired? We’re featuring “The Big Little Red Barn House”—a stunning barndominium that proves you can build your dream home using sustainable practices and a passion for salvaging. This beautiful, all-electric structure in Midcoast Maine was custom-built using a metal building component from NSBS Metal Buildings, and it packs a powerful punch of rustic charm and modern efficiency!

For those interested in barndominium design and construction, take a look at the incredible features in this unique home. You can use these ideas to inspire or modify your current and future barndo plans.

🛠️ The Foundation and Structure

This home began with a strong vision: a shift from the metropolitan area to 16 acres in Maine. The owners originally hand-drew their design on graph paper before working collaboratively with our team at NSBS Metal Buildings to fabricate the shell.

The local team at Broad Arrow Builders provided the crucial slab foundation and 4-foot frost wall.

The metal building component was then raised by NSBS, forming the sturdy, low-maintenance structure known as The Big Little Red Barn House.

🌿 The Core of Efficiency: Mechanicals

This home was built with sustainability and long-term efficiency in mind, making it a true testament to modern, responsible building.

Geothermal Power: The heating and cooling system is managed by forced-air geothermal energy, based on two 450-foot wells drilled straight through the bedrock. Talk about an efficient system!

Fresh Water: The home sources its fresh water from a 125-foot artesian well, drawing 10 gallons per minute.

Insulation: They utilized closed-cell spray insulation on exterior walls and Rockwool in the interior, maximizing thermal performance.

All-Electric Design: The home operates fully on electric appliances, including an 80-gallon heat pump hybrid water heater, an induction stove, and a stacked washer/dryer system.

Peace of Mind: A back-up propane-powered whole house generator is ready for the occasional power outage.

💡 The Soul of the Home: Salvage and Design Touches

The most unique aspect of this barndominium is the owners’ dedication to salvaging, proving that style doesn’t require all new materials.

Custom Post & Beam Look: Originally planning to leave the metal I-beams exposed, the owners opted for a stunning covered beam solution. They found extra-wide knotty pine weathered at a lumber yard and used it to sheath the metal, creating a dramatic, oversized post and beam structure that brings incredible rustic warmth.

The Salvaged Kitchen: The entire kitchen, from cabinets to components, was sourced from a single remodel in New Hampshire and repurposed beautifully.

The Center Peninsula: The kitchen features an induction stove/oven located in the center peninsula, allowing the cook to entertain guests at the bar while overseeing the main living area—a perfect open-concept solution.

Rustic Spiral Staircase: Leading up to the spacious loft is a striking exterior-grade, rustic spiral staircase, which adds a strong architectural focal point to the living room.

Loft Spaces: The loft provides two separate home offices (one for each owner for efficient remote work), as well as space for exercise equipment and a futon sleeper sofa.

Antique Vanities: Both bathrooms feature repurposed vanities: one originated as an antique dry sink and the other as an antique sideboard.

New Life for Cedar: The guest rooms feature charming cedar closets, handmade by a local carpenter years ago, which were updated with fresh paint, trim, and cedar oil. When opened, they radiate that lovely, fresh cedar smell!

Cozy Ambiance: For the colder months, electric wood stoves were inserted into all three bedrooms, and a traditional wood stove sits in the corner of the main living room for a cozy feel.

🛌 Practical Layout: Suites and Spaces

The barndominium has a smart 3-bedroom, 2-full-bathroom layout designed for both privacy and entertaining.

The Guest Suite: The home is separated into two distinct wings. Two bedrooms are housed under one hip roof, complete with a kitchenette and a full bathroom. This self-contained “suite” can be easily separated from the rest of the house via two sliding doors, making it ideal for guests.

The Primary Suite: The opposite hip roof houses the primary bedroom suite, which includes a spacious walk-in closet and a bathroom with two sinks and a large shower.

The Four-Season Sunroom: Extending the main living area, the front hip area features a four-season sunroom, which serves as a dining area with a beautiful view of the wildflower meadow and pine forest.

🌟 Wrapping Up

From the salvaged fixtures to the geothermal heating, The Big Little Red Barn House is a true labor of love and resourceful design. The owners are currently focusing on landscaping, aiming to make their 16 acres a restorative retreat for family and friends—a vision made even better by their neighbor’s nearby Nordic Spa, Waterstruck Wellness.

This sturdy, efficient barndominium is fulfilling its owners’ dreams every single day. If you’re ready to start your own barndominium journey, remember that unique design and personality are often found in the salvaged details!

Thinking about building a barndominium of your own? We’re here to help! Barndominium Life has everything you need—custom house plans, guides, builders, kits, and more. We’re your one-stop solution for all things barndo.

Check us out and take the first step toward making your dream home a reality!

If you would like more guides like this one, check out the rest of BarndominiumLife.com. There, you will find more helpful tips and tricks from the pros.

You will also find featured barndominiums, stock barndominium house plans, custom barndominium house plans, and information on financing and insurance.

Just starting out? Check out the Barndominiums Made Easy Program. It has our “How to Build Guide”, 120+ House Plans, and the Bid and Budget Tracker. Knowing as much as you can will help you get the best results for your dream home.