Got a passion for horses and beautiful homes? Woodhouse timber frame house plans and timber frame barndominiums accommodate an equestrian lifestyle with style and durability.
A custom Douglas fir timber frame stable by Woodhouse, created for Blue Star Ranch in Cashiers, North Carolina
Here at Woodhouse, we understand the passion of equine enthusiasts runs deep, with an architectural legacy to match. Lead architect Diana Allen grew up around horses and has a special relationship with equestrian home design. “I always loved going back to the barn. That was my favorite part of riding — going back to the horses, being in the stalls and interacting with them in the barn,” she explains.
While in high school, the family of one of Diana’s friends converted a barn into a home. Diana was hooked and dedicated her life to architecture. Head to our YouTube to hear more of her story.
Pairing sophistication and craftsmanship with strength and design flexibility, Woodhouse barn-style timber frame home designs and timber frame barndominiums are an extension of this distinct lifestyle. And like all Woodhouse timber frame house plans and styles, each can be fully customized — from the aesthetic to the size to wish-list-worthy luxury upgrades.
So whether your style is more polo or rodeo, show jumping or barrel racing, a timber frame structure can be tailored for your unique equestrian lifestyle. Here’s what to know to get started:
Woodhouse designed this traditionally styled timber frame round pen for Blue Star Ranch in Cashiers, North Carolina.
Built on Heritage
The equestrian aesthetic, as seen through the lens of fashion and interior design, is one way equine enthusiasts express their connection to their unique way of life and like-minded community. The style is steeped in the tradition of horses and objects associated with riding and horse care — everything from hay bales, boots, and bridles to spurs, stirrups, and saddles. A barn, of course, is the most iconic of all. And historic barns are synonymous with timber framing.
For centuries, timber framing was the primary construction method for American barns. Large timbers and high-quality craftsmanship give these structures strength and durability, two essential qualities in protecting livestock and supplies.
Over the decades, the appeal of these provincial structures grew. Aesthetic preferences evolved, but the hard-working spirit of the original barns carries through to contemporary timber frame designs.
Timber Frame Designs for Today’s Lifestyles
Today, Woodhouse has perfected the art of fusing historic craftsmanship with modern, energy-efficient technologies and techniques for elegant, high-performance timber frame homes, barns, and structures. It’s a perfect match for the equestrian lifestyle, bringing a luxury approach to an aesthetic with humble roots. Let’s explore some of the many forms equestrian-minded architecture can take:
A custom timber frame round pen, designed by Woodhouse for Blue Star Ranch in Cashiers, North Carolina
Stables and Arenas
Woodhouse utilizes timber framing’s flexibility and durability to create stable and arena designs that will last for generations. With no need for interior walls, timber framing offers the opportunity for wide-open arenas and ultra customizable stables. To wit, see how this Woodhouse timber frame stable and covered round pen in Cashiers, North Carolina marries rustic artistry and high-performance function.
Alternatively, check out the Brewery, a Woodhouse commercial design that embodies the classic barn aesthetic. This spacious floor plan would make an ideal timber frame plan for a riding school or professional training facility.
The MagnoliaMeadow by Woodhouse
Timber Frame Barns + Barndominiums
A timber frame barn, like the MagnoliaMeadow design, is practically canon for an equestrian lifestyle. These elegant and practical timber frame plans are versatile, translating agrarian vernacular into dreamy residential and commercial architecture in the form of a timber frame barndominium or even a dedicated timber frame horse barn.
A timber frame barndominium is especially well-suited to support your daily rituals and responsibilities related to horse care. Check out how a timber frame barndominium can be customized to your unique lifestyle.
The Madison by Woodhouse
Residential-Only Structures
The flexibility Woodhouse brings to its timber frame house plans and styles means many of its predesigns can also be tailored to channel the equestrian aesthetic. Take for example Chef D’Equipe of the U.S. Para Dressage Team, who wanted a home with modern European flair that captured a barn feeling. He found it in the Woodhouse Adirondack Cottage design. Discover all the custom modifications that make his home equal parts humble and spectacular.
Whatever your interpretation of equestrian style, Woodhouse has you covered. The Madison predesign brings grand equestrian style to the countryside estate. Meanwhile, PrairieView exudes down-to-earth Midwestern charm. And don’t miss SageMeadow, with a wrap-around porch and classic agrarian details.
Timber-framed stables at Blue Star Ranch, designed by Woodhouse
Design Your Own Dream
Ready to saddle up and explore customizable timber frame home designs that expertly combine horse and home with style? Explore our photo gallery or peruse the more than 100 timber frame floor plans for inspiring ideas and possibilities. With Woodhouse, you never have to ride alone. Contact your Woodhouse Regional Project Manager for a conversation about your dreams, ideas, and even your property and how Woodhouse will support your dream from initial concept to final completion.
