Barns

See how three dilapidated old barns were lovingly transformed into useful new spaces. The dramatic before and after photos prove that even the most run-down barn can be salvaged.

When Barb and Jim Rohl moved to the Ohio countryside, the newly married couple had a vision for their property's dilapidated 115-year-old barn. In its glory days, the Pennsylvania-style, four-bay barn housed dairy cows and market hogs, horse-drawn farming equipment, and plenty of hay.

Most folks would have thrown up their hands and torn it down, but Judy Parker saw a bright future for this old barn.

I live in a cow barn. The cows left long ago when the dairy operation seized and original owners sold the place, but after renovations, it now has a warm, woodsy back-to-nature feel.

To protect your livelihood or your family pets, here are steps you can take to keep your barn standing strong.

Many old barns are just not up to par for modern farming needs, and they're too expensive to maintain as family heirlooms. The Barn Again! program, however, has spiked a renewed interest in preserving the character of rural America by encouraging people to renovate their existing barns instead of building new structures.

Ironically, many barn fires start by trying to cool the animals down. Here are some tips for keeping your barn and animals safe.

When hay bales are stored with too much moisture in them, microorganisms begin to feed and multiply, generating heat -- and sometimes, fire.

When quilt designs are painted on an 8' x 8' piece of plywood and hung on a barn, they're enjoyed by everyone who drives by.

Barns are built to last for decades and withstand the elements, but winter is hard on outdoor structures, especially old ones.

Here are a few practical design tips that will save you time and money.

Comfort and safety (the horse's, that is) should be top priorities when building a barn and a place to ride.

Most older barns are 'good enough' to last a long, long time, if you take the right steps to make them beautiful and useful again.