When a Connecticut family asked Jenny Fischbach to transform an old 6,800-square-foot barn on their property into an inviting retreat for entertaining friends and family, the New York–based designer had her work cut out for her. “The foundation was crumbling, and there was no way to access the two lofts on the upper level of the space,” says Fischbach, who worked with architect Reese Owens to modernize the early-20th-century structure, which now serves as both cozy gathering area and sports complex, complete with a basketball court, gym, and ski locker. “It was basically rubble.”
Architect Reese Owens installed a walkway and steel railings to connect two lofts on opposite sides of the barn’s upper level.
Fischbach and Owens began renovations by raising the entire structure to pour a new foundation, then added a staircase and walkway to make the upper-level rooms accessible to each other and from the ground floor. Railings were added to match the existing steel beams found throughout the space, and four interior columns were removed at the heart of the barn to establish an open layout in the main living area. “We were trying to create a contemporary urban environment within the rustic setting while making the additions feel like they had always been there,” says Fischbach of the revamped space. To blend both worlds, she clad the walls of the living room in unfinished reclaimed wood and installed shiny concrete flooring for a minimalist look that adds contrast to the patina of the wood.
On the upper level, one loft doubles as a work bench and artist’s studio for the homeowner’s three children.
The attention to detail continues in the rest of the barn’s gathering spaces. When the homeowner requested an area that resembled a rustic fishing lodge, Fischbach delivered a cozy club room with a sophisticated navy-and-gray palette thanks largely to 650 reclaimed pine boards, which were sorted and systematically adhered to the walls to achieve the ideal silvery color scheme. In the main living room, a shaggy rug softens the space and adds dimension to the flat concrete flooring, while brass lighting elevates the room beyond its rugged primary materials. “It’s the kind of space you want to hang out in on a rainy day,” says Fischbach. By the looks of it, you’d never know it wasn’t always so.
Designer Jenny Fischbach added contemporary glass panels to replace the barn’s original alley doors, allowing plenty of natural light to stream into the main living area.
