The Classic American Farmhouse

This Michigan timber home combines modern design with classic American farmhouse style.

The stepped windows usher in loads of natural light to the home’s main level and loft space. Part of the full wraparound porch is screened for protection from the elements, including weather and critters native to the region.

Photography by Sand Creek Post and Beam

There’s a reason barn-style homes have stood the test of time. Charming, spacious and incredibly flexible in their design, these classic American farmhouses pair function with modern open-layout living — a fact that was especially appealing to the owner of one lakeside timber home in Michigan.

“He definitely wanted a house that was designed for entertaining,” says Cody Wortman, marketing director at Sand Creek Post & Beam in Wayne, Nebraska. “He built the home as a retreat where his kids and grandkids could come to hang out. He wanted this farmhouse to be a gathering place.”

After some online research, the owner found a nearly perfect floor plan: Sand Creek’s Ponderosa Country Barn Home. He then worked with Sand Creek’s design team to tweak the design, adding a full wraparound porch and an enclosed 12-foot lean-to area in the great room. These customizations, paired with the fully exposed Ponderosa pine timber frame and windows, lend an airy, open feel to the 2,800-square-foot home.

The house serves as the owner’s primary residence, and a simple second-story loft with two bedrooms and a full bath provide plenty of privacy when guests come to stay. The main-level master suite is a smart solution for aging in place and means the owner can live primarily on the first floor when he has the house to himself.

There’s also a separate free-standing barn garage, complete with storage space on the main level and an upstairs bonus space with a play area and built-in bunk beds for the grandchildren. “The barn is great for the kids on rainy days, while the 15 acres of property and the water keep us all busy when the weather is nice,” says the owner. “Everything about this home has exceeded my expectations. I just love it.”