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Make good use of those old outbuildings

By: Shannon Lee , Contributing Writer
In: Historic Preservation, Home Improvement Tips

If you're anything like me, the idea of removing anything from a historic property makes you feel a little sick inside. That property has stood for so long -- why take away part of it now? That view leaves many homeowners in a quandary when it comes to outbuildings. What if the outbuildings are older than the house, but they are falling apart? Is it worth the time and money to restore them? And once they are restored, what can they be used for?

Some old outbuildings lend themselves very well to modern purposes without sacrificing integrity. An old shed or barn could be perfect for storage in the top floor or rafters, while having plenty of room to serve as a garage for all your modern vehicles. But what about those outbuildings that don't have many modern uses, like that outhouse that sits in the backyard?

New uses for old buildings

When we bought our new home last fall, it came with an impressive array of outbuildings. Some were completely beyond hope (I'm looking at you, ancient potting shed), but others offered some possibility. There was an old outhouse in the back, a corn crib that still had many good years left, and a shed that had once been a garage.

The outhouse had been filled in (thank goodness) but the structure itself was still there, surprisingly sturdy, even though it did have a jaunty slant. Many years ago, an enterprising homeowner had built shelves inside the top part of the outhouse structure, so it didn't take long for us to decide what to do with it: This would be our storage area for yard tools, such as the rake and shovel. The shelves were for smaller items, like the gardening spades we seem to accumulate.

Then we turned our attention to the garage that was once a shed that was once a…who knows? It had a garage door suitable for one vehicle, but in the front of the building was the real charm -- two windows with built-in flower boxes and a handsome hand-carved door. It was impossible not to look at that old garage and see the word "cottage" blinking in my head.

After a discussion with a professional contractor and a few estimates, we decided that yes, that worn-down garage would have new life as a pretty guest cottage. A few permits, a few weeks of construction and just like that, we had a place for our kids to come home to during college breaks and the added bonus of a big property value boost. Outbuildings are wonderful things, aren't they?

Then we turned to the corn crib. It is of the wooden variety, so it would be tough to turn it into a gazebo like some creative homeowners might. It seemed too gorgeous to use for storage, and just the right size for something interesting…but what?

I got my answer at five in the morning a few weeks later, when the neighbor's rooster woke me with his familiar morning greeting. Why hadn't I thought of it before? A corn crib would make an awesome chicken coop! And so begins the latest adventure, of making the former corn crib into a sturdy, secure house for the heirloom breed chickens we intend to invite to stay awhile.

We're having all this fun because we chose to view those old outbuildings not as eyesores, but as possibilities. We maintained the historical integrity while turning those buildings into something that we can use for many decades to come. Did I mention outbuildings are wonderful things?

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