Barn House Retreat In Lake Chelan Countryside

This barn house retreat was designed as a multi-purpose residence by Seattle-based SkB Architects, located near scenic Lake Chelan in Manson, Washington. A unique project that took almost four years to complete, the property is highlighted as one part luxury residence and one part working barn. The latter is used as a commercial fruit orchard in addition to an idyllic location for a hospitality venue used for weddings and events and comes complete with a custom brick pizza oven!

The design of this 10,000 square foot barn was inspired by visionary sketches that were provided by the homeowners. The main level encompasses an entertainment area, incredible commercial kitchen and storage for the orchard equipment. The second level features guest bedrooms and living areas, while a wine cellar was designed in the basement level.

Expansive, sliding carriage doors open both ends of the building up to its surroundings, encouraging guests to move into the landscape and take advantage of the spectacular vistas. Garage doors, located under the wings, offers additional opportunities to connect the indoor and outdoor spaces.

The exterior facade features black-stained wood siding, applied with steel wool and vinegar. Over the course of time, the stain will eventually soften to a silvery gray and blend the structure into the landscape. “We suggested nixing the red barn for something more sympathetic to the landscape,” states designer Kyle Gaffney. “We showed them some dark barns which made it more a part of the orchard rather than an object alongside it.” The carriage doors at the main and loft level have been stained with a transparent tone for visual contrast.

This barn house retreat provides comfortable living spaces and amazing entertaining areas that are surrounded by an idyllic countryside. Beautiful material elements are highlighted throughout this home, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The beautiful views provided on this property makes this a charming destination to host a variety of events.

The main level features one large open floor plan, suitable for parties or for storing vehicles from the owner’s classic car collection. An integrally-colored, concrete and stainless steel emblem is embedded into the floor. This emblem serves as a hallmark for the property, which has been repeated in the Dutch-barn-sign on the outside of the structure.

A three-story steel staircase features wood treads, uniting the three levels of this structure. Vintage apple crate panels clads the wall of this stairwell, serving as a nod to the landscape outside.

Twenty-four exposed wood trusses span the interior above the stairwell, which are supported by powder-coated steel brackets. The upper level encompasses the guest bedrooms and a shared living area, wrapping around the perimeter of the structure in mezzanine-fashion, leaving the center open to the ground floor below.

The master bedroom provides sweeping views over the orchard.

The wine cellar can be found on the basement level, showcasing split, sanded cobblestones for the flooring. Cedar sinker wood, was milled and turned into the sliding barn doors for both the wine cellar and the master bathroom.