I love your work so so much. For me this is some of the best content on RU-vid. Imaginative, creative, thoughtful and insightful. It's a good day when one of these videos comes out.
This is the only design of yours that I am not sure about. Stunning as usual but not sure about the practicality. The bathroom design is amazing but would be very hard to live with. For a home it would be a nightmare to keep clean, better as a holiday let. The mezzanine is a real luxury that I personally couldn't afford to lose the floor space for. Having said all that I'm always inspired by your designs
Thanks so much for your thoughts! I guess that’s what concept designs are about - trying things out to see if you could live with them and then you go one way or the other. I appreciate you taking the time to consider it.
I agree. It’s beautiful, but I’m not sure it’s practical. I also don’t know if Gemma has been to upstate New York-it cold in the winter! All the heat would rise to the bedroom and it would probably be chilly downstairs, and uncomfortably warm in summer. I also wouldn’t like the bedroom so exposed to noise and light from the translucent bathroom if my spouse were in there while I was trying to sleep! Fine for a solo retreat, but not practical for even a couple. Gemma is amazing, though. I always love her videos!
Weirdly kept wondering where the extract fan would be placed on all that glass (yes in the roof but then kind of spoils it) great design though love it
This is absolutely gorgeous, but I'm not sure about the bathroom. The idea that you can vaguely see someone inside the bathroom as they are 'busy' doesn't go well with the need for privacy when inside that room. Beautiful design though. Keep on designing and we'll keep on watching. Thank you.
Haha I wouldn’t like that either!! The glass would be fully opaque but translucent so really couldn’t be seen through. I think maybe I got the levels a bit wrong in the render so it didn’t reassure people of that!
Gemma, I marvel at each of your designs but this, your latest presentation, is far and away my favorite. Your approach and selection of materials is so unique yet totally functional. Much admiration from South Carolina, USA.
Once again you’ve delivered a striking solution that honours the origins of the building while providing beautiful, liveable space for the future: you are a consumate story-teller! If only I had resources to employ you!
I watch your videos with absolute awe at your creative thinking process. Love what you do with old structures, to modernise and bring to life, without losing their original integrity. Well done
gemma, this is an absolutely brilliant conceptualization that creates a wonderfully liveable home while preserving all the unique qualities of the original barn. i could easily envision a series of shelves placed between the studs on both sides of the little reading nook, filled with books and turning it into a beautiful little library. congratulations on creating such a marvelous transformation.
I love the way you have honored the old, right down to keeping alive the spirit of the horse stalls. The exterior cladding seems brilliant to me, such captivating appearances both day and night. And I especially appreciate using stark modern materials to introduce the new interior elements. Your videos are a thought-provoking beautiful pleasure!
I absolutely love it! Would be great for a couple who both work from home, with all the common spaces but also little nooks for privacy. I could 100% see myself living in a place like this.
When I was in the antique business, I worked a lot with the local lighting expert, who inspected and rewired (if necessary) all the antique lamps that I bought. I was talking to him once about my attraction to the Arts & Crafts style and furniture. He said, “You have to remember that those people lived in the dark!”meaning that they had small windows and lamps that didn’t put out much light. When I analyze your designs, I am reminded of his comments about living in the dark. PS, I’d put in a hand rail in the stairway so people of all ages can climb them safely.
Not my favourite of your designs but I still like it a lot. I'm just not quite sure of the placement of the bathroom and think I'd prefer it where the reading nook is personally as it's current location seems to dominate the space IMO. Love the stealth window treatment and use of the existing barn door to hide the stairs/utility area.
Thanks for your thoughts - they’re always appreciated! I know what you mean about it dominating the space. I think that’s what my aim was: to make the glowing box the heart of the building. I never know how these ideas will turn out til I build them!
I agree. Love the design and use of space except for the light box bathroom. I’d like it in the corner where the reading nook is as well. I am imagining myself as the owner working with you as the architect and coming up with the design.
finally some love for book readers, with that nook...i love the make up.... even thinking to build a house like this from scratch, not just as renovation...
It’s so beautiful from a design standpoint. You’re extremely creative! If I were to actually use you as an architect, I would let you design and then I would have you add things that I need to function in the home for example, a place for a washer and dryer, plenty of storage space, stinks with storage underneath , a place to hang all my coats…
I love so much about this beautiful transformation - the external insulation keeping the slats is particularly brilliant and the overall layout keeps the building's character so respectfully and so successfully! That bathroom though, gave me pause. Whilst I love the concept, I think there are two glaring problems. One is its physical dominance and the other is possible privacy issues during use. But do keep 'em coming, I am always so excited when I see you've posted another video and your work is always spectacular!
Love this! My first instinct was that the living spaces should go on the top floor and the bedrooms on the ground floor, but the way you placed things made for a much more unique and original layout.
I am fascinated by your creativity and love the idea of preserving the original character of buildings. There's another video of yours in which a ruin is given a new life - it's a really great solution. What would bother me in reality with many designs is that if the design is so open and the bed is on the top floor, the heat goes up and it gets uncomfortably warm to sleep in in summer. I've read that almost all houses in the USA have air conditioning, so maybe that wouldn't be a problem there.
Yes, some air conditioning would be needed for that upstairs bedroom in that area of New York. I grew up in Upstate (a suburb of Rochester), and I went to camp in the Fingerlakes area. I also lived for a bit in northern NJ, across from NYC, so I can confidently say that when it’s hot, it’s both hot and muggy. And when it is cold it is VERY cold. So I am not convinced about the open plan, especially regarding heating and cooling. And like some others here, I am also not convinced about the translucent bathroom walls. For me, were I living there, I might be ok with translucent from the waist up or so. I’d also be more inclined to put the fireplace in the center of the space, rather than the bathroom, although I do find the “light box” aspect of it interesting. Very interesting designs as always!
Upstate New York has a challenging climate. Hot and muggy in the summer and often below-freezing cold in the winter. A month of mud in spring. One would definitely need ceiling fans at least.
Remarkable The slatting, the white steel, the shine to the ceiling and props, the nighttime view, the introduction of sunlight. the center lucite bath, the open flooring!!! I remain amazed!!! Ty❤🎉
Very nice! I like what you said about "disguising the house within". You put words to my feelings about a barn we want to reform, though it's quite different in other ways. It's smaller and has stone walls on 3 sides and nothing on one side which is where I thought the disguising should go. I'll see if you have any more barn conversions... :)
This is absolutely exquisite! I deeply appreciate your vison and gifts. What a lovely, lovely channel! Don't I wish I had a project to let you loose on! I love the contrast of the "alien" object glowing as if it were dropped down into the old barn. The idea of using the slats is genius as is leaving the palimpset of the timebers from the old horse stalls. Love it love it!
Surprisingly, this is one of my favorites of your designs! I love the stealth mode of it, but also how you have accounted for every contingency and comfort!
I really enjoy your designs Gemma, particularly the stealth windows and external insulation on this design to save space and character. I often wonder if you had the time how you would have designed the Italian cabin that the great @MartijnDoolaard is undertaking? Similar to the George Dunnett episode. Looking forward to the next video.
I would move in there asap. I live in very gently modernised 509 year old house. The architect has very much approached the building the way you do. I very much love your work. Always looking forward to your next project.
Bloody brilliant. But a skylight above the bathroom would be nice, in addition to your luxurious glass box, both from a light and ventilation point of a view.
How beautiful and clever. I particularly like this juxtaposition of the traditional timber elements with the sharp white and translucent glass elements. The translucent glass bathroom is inspired, and I have also liked the translucent element you've used in your other tiny homes. This is definitely something I'd like to incorporate into my own home. I also like that you honour the barn's original purpose so that it still sits recognisably within its landscape.
I loved this one so much! I just discovered your channel. Trying not to binge watch all your vids, but it's hard not to 😂. Super inspired by your creativity, mixing the true to tradition with modern elements. Elegant and practical.
This has become one of my favorite RU-vid channels. Thank you Gemma, once again an absolutely beautiful and creative design. The only 2 things I'd change would be to make the reading nook bigger to allow for a full sized home office and swap the reading nook with the office area downstairs. Rotate the sofa by 90°, so you create a U-shaped seating area with the window bench and the TV / home cinema spot on the northern wall. I'd love to see you approach a design with modern TV + home cinema in mind in a future video. 😄
Thank you!!! I love this. I could see myself living in this barn. The idea of external insulation both brilliant and inspiring; keeping the interior walls and studs preserves the barn's qualities; perhaps using external window shutter with interior glass windows that open from the inside. I also love the translucent bathroom but use half glass/wood wall facing the reading nook and one facing the bedroom and sunlight can still stream in! I would also add a ceiling fan on each floor to circulate warm air in the winter or cool air in the summer. Install a tv/entertainment center over the fireplace (winter is only two weeks where I live which does get 3-4 days hard freeze, occasionally snows). Galvalum roofing, instead of tiles, for better insulation. Please keep your videos coming, can't wait to see your next creation!
I was so looking forward to this/your next video. I like almost everything; Great ideas, though I am not so keen on having slats in front of windows. I know you wanted to preserve the character of the building and your solution is genial. But I do like proper and big windows to look out of 🙂.
I love your content! Elegant and fresh, I'm a fan the modern revival of old buildings. Personally I'd prefer to have the office and the reading area fused so it's a multipurpose space and would have left a larger common area downstaris but I loved the glowing box loo!
Your depth and multifaceted way of designing spaces and transforming houses is so inspiring and fascinating for me. The way you look is full of wonderful creative surprises and fantastic solutions. I love your work. So brilliant ✨💎👍🙏🧡
Love your work! We have just finished renovating/rebuilding an abandoned building of our own and I love that we have brought new life to an old building. Congrats on this and all your designs!
Great design. How would you handle TV/Stereo as the couch faces the window and the face of the fireplace is slanted? Putting entertainment centre up in the bedroom would seem somewhat solipsistic. Also the somewhat see through main bath may only be for the brave. Nice that there is a powder room on the main floor.
I get excited when I see a new post of yours. Your work is so creative, artistic, surprising, and thoroughly enjoyable. The very best of what you tube has to offer!
I love seeing what you propose doing with these old structures, but I really wish we could see the "real life" ending (or new beginning) to the actual buildings.
This is so far my most favorite project of yours But I would add some reflective materials like Stainless steel, mirrors and glass also on the ground floor as you did on the second floor The glowing bathroom was amazing
The window idea and the bathroom wall material is geniuuusssss!! 😮❤ Im your fan from Indonesia, btw. You have inspired me to draw floor plan of my workplace when a client asked me 😂🙈
I love seeing all the enthusiast comments. This one is curious to me fun but not so practical. All I can see to think about is the potential of barn spiders in the corners - I’d be hiding out in the upstairs bathroom lol- but really - I love that you share your ideas on RU-vid!
Stunning design, and I find it very inspiring and actually practical to live in. I’d be curious on the square footage of the space for each floor. Thank you
