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	HOMEOWNERS NEWSLETTER	Winter 2002

	"Yankee Barn gave us the flexibility to get what we wanted inside and out. We didn't have to compromise on the layout we wanted, plus we have the charm of the post and beam construction with modern conveniences." To learn how you can design your own barn home, Order the Design Guide. The Yankee Barn Design Guide includes a three-ring binder with 175 pages of design ideas, color photographs, interviews with homeowners and custom plans.

	Retiring after a career filled with transfers every three or four years, Dave and Nancy could choose where they wanted to live and what they wanted to live in. "This was a different experience for us. We had always moved with the job. For the first time, we could choose to live anywhere we wanted. Plus, we were not on a three or four year schedule. We were going to be here for a while," said Dave. Over the years and between company transfers, Dave and Nancy had built a few, restored a couple, and bought many houses. When it came time to retire, they had the opportunity to choose where they wanted to live and what they wanted to live in. Dave and Nancy narrowed down their search for where to live. New Hampshire topped the list for its four seasons and outdoor activities including hiking and cross-country skiing. After selecting where they wanted to live, they looked at 19 houses including a few Yankee Barns. "It seemed we would have to compromise if we bought another house. We could only have our wish list if we built," said Dave. Retiring after a career filled with transfers every three or four years, Dave and Nancy could choose where they wanted to live and what they wanted to live in. "After looking at five or six Yankee Barns, we realized the flexibility. Every one had a different layout. Yankee Barn gave us the flexibility to get what we wanted inside and out," said Dave. "Inside, we could have the post and beam construction and the layout of living spaces we wanted. Outside, with the dormers, window grids, and symmetrical windows, we created the colonial look we wanted." A granary, added to the gable end of the house, encloses a breakfast area enjoying views on two sides, plus a laundry room and bathroom. Removing the top half of the interior wall created a convenient pass-through from the kitchen to the dining area. "Our previous home was a 1785 fieldstone farmhouse in Pennsylvania. Though it was in great condition, we were ready for modern conveniences and energy efficiency," said Nancy. "With Yankee Barn, we didn't have to compromise and we could have the best of both worlds. The old charm of the post and beam construction, but I could easily open the windows." Dave and Nancy sent a wish list to Bruce Parsons, one of the designers at Yankee Barn Homes. "We received a pencil sketch in a few weeks. From that, we only made a few changes," said Dave. "Bruce took the time to get to know us and what we wanted, and made it work in a Yankee Barn." Dormers, symmetrical windows with grids, and traditional clapboard siding help create the colonial look Dave and Nancy wanted for the approach to their dream home. Tucked around the corner from the kitchen, Dave and Nancy have a formal dining room for special occasions that doubles as a cozy spot for everyday use. Dave and Nancy's retirement home wish list included an open living room plus a cozy den, and a large cook's kitchen with breakfast area for informal dining. They wanted a dining room partially open to the kitchen and living room so it could be used for everyday, as well as formal entertaining. To take advantage of the view from all the rooms along one side of their home, Dave and Nancy designed a center Great Room with a bump out dormer (see Designer Notes). The master bedroom and laundry needed to be on the first floor with guest bedrooms for visiting children, grandchildren, and friends on the second floor. Dave wanted an office on the second floor with views in both directions.
	Dave and Nancy designed a first floor master bedroom and bathroom in an ell built with hybrid timber framing. "Bruce asked us how we would use the house and land, where we wanted views, and how the rooms would interact," said Dave. "We wanted to design the house to blend with the environment and have views from as many rooms as possible. We have nine rooms with a view." "Bruce made suggestions, gave ideas, and was an all-around great resource," said Dave. "Yankee Barn was there for us, not just during the design, but through the whole process from siting the house and locating the driveway to interviewing builders and consulting on interior finishes." "I tell people 'I wouldn't change a thing,' and they say, 'There must be one thing you would change,'" said Nancy. "Well, we haven't found it yet." added Dave. "We can't believe we are here. Sometimes we pinch ourselves to make sure that it isn't a dream." The center fireplace serves the Great Room on one side (cover photograph) and a cozy family room on the other. Both rooms look out toward the view.
	"It was fun to be interviewed by HGTV," said Nancy. "We are so happy with our Yankee Barn, we want to share the experience. We are pleased with the beams, the location, the house itself, the finishing touches, and the area. This really is a dream home." Dream Builders, a series produced by HGTV in association with the National Association of Home Builders, has been cited as one of the top-rated shows on cable television. Each episode profiles innovative builders, often referred to as "the best and the brightest" in the home building industry. Host Scott Morgan takes viewers across the country to provide in-depth information about home design and construction and take a look at the latest trends, styles and techniques. Episode #809, to air in February, profiles the innovative design and construction of Yankee Barns. In addition to filming Dave and Nancy's home, the crew interviewed Yankee Barn Homes' CEO Tony Hanslin, President Robert Knight, and Designer Bruce Parsons; toured the Show Home; and visited during the construction of a nearby Yankee Barn. To find out when the episode will air, periodically check the HGTV website at www.hgtv.com and search under the Show List for Dream Builders, #809, or DRB-809. Also, visit the Yankee Barn Homes website at www.yankeebarnhomes.com for postings of show times.	Yankee Barn's website recently received a national award from the Building Systems Council of the National Association of Homebuilders. Recognized as a resource for information about "barn" homes, the site generates many positive comments from visitors including, "Your web site is incredibly informative and useful." A new feature on the site, "Layout your floor plan," receives over 50 visitors a day. One visitor commented, "You are practically building your own house." Actually, that's the idea. The new feature is a great place to get started with the design process. Learn about the architectural considerations while you select various design features including square footage, number of bedrooms, layout of the master bedroom, location of the Great Room and entry, kitchen flow, etc. Review your preferences on a summary page and optionally e-mail Yankee Barn Homes your information.

	Dave and Nancy's building site at the top of an old ski area sloped down in the direction of a stunning view. To take advantage of this view from as many rooms as possible, the house was oriented with its long eave side facing the view. While the eave side is long, it is not tall like the gable end. Dave and Nancy loved the light and views from the wall of windows that many Yankee Barns have. By adding a dormer on the eave side, the side wall was raised to fit 16' of stacked windows oriented toward the view. Dave and Nancy took this one step further and added a second dormer on the other side of their Yankee Barn. This broke the long façade of their house and added visual interest to the approach to their home. Yankee Barn designers use several types of dormers to meet the wish lists of homeowners. Except for the smallest dormers, the ridge of the dormer must intersect the roof of the main house where there is a beam to support it. For most Yankee Barns, this means the top of the dormer must be at the height of the roof beam (about half way up the main house roof) or at the ridge beam (top of the main house roof). Dave and Nancy's dormers intersect at the roof beam. The dormer can end flush with the wall of the house, or when extra living space is needed, the wall and dormer can be "bumped out." Dave and Nancy "bumped out" both dormers. They wanted the extra living space in the Great Room on the view side. They also added a foyer on the first floor and an office upstairs on the entrance side. Dave's office, located upstairs in one bump-out dormer, has a view across the Great Room located in a second bump-out dormer.
	Photographs: Suki Coughlin, Stylist: Paula McFarland ©2002 Yankee Barn Homes, Tony Hanslin, Chairman and CEO