“Barndominiums got the reputation of being an extremely cheap way to build when you mostly saw the 'shouse' style,” says Marshall. Shop-house (shouse) buildings have large square ...

To Oliver Bell, chief operating officer of the Barndominium Company, it’s the emphasis on the shop part, which is often larger than and separated from the living space, in contrast with the open ...

A portmanteau of the words “barn” and “condominium,” a barndominium is a barn turned into a living space complete with the comforts of a home. Barns that no longer serve their original ...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lacey Harwood, a 39-year-old "barndominium" owner based one hour outside of Houston. It has been edited for length and clarity. In 2010 ...