LAS VEGAS, Jan. 23 — Barn at Walnut Hill, a renovated hay barn in Rockville, Va., was named the Remodel of the Year in the 2019 Best in American Living™ Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The Remodel of the Year award was sponsored by Monogram Appliances.
When the architect/designer team that make up Poole & Poole Architecture LLC saw the stately barn with a “for-sale” sign, they knew it would become their home. Their design goals were clear; the exterior would respect the original Dutch gambrel design, and the original vent and door openings were used for entry, window and dormer locations.
Before 
Photo by Eastman Creative
Before 
Photo by Eastman Creative
With builder Portico Classic Homes and Focus Design Interiors, the groups worked to express the impressive, two-story volume of the barn, to keep the existing structural elements, and to reuse and repurpose any materials removed. Posts and beams were used as focal points, while original cedar siding was preserved and reused as the base of the kitchen island, an accent wall in the powder room and as material for sliding barn doors. The former 6,888 square-foot home was transformed into 8,610 square feet.
For sustainability, solar panels cross the western roof. Motorized blinds control solar gain in the summer and allow solar warming in the winter. Nearly all systems are automated in the house: heat/air, fans, lights and lamps are all programmed to come on when needed and to turn off when appropriate.
“This is a really dramatic and very cool remodel. Some of the high points include the restoration of the original barn and silhouette, the playful basement and the use of curated textures throughout” said Don Ruthroff, Principal at Dahlin Group Architecture Planning, NAHB’s 2019 Judging Chair and 2019 Best in American Living Awards Subcommittee Chair. “The BALA program truly celebrates the ‘best of the best.’”
About BALA:
In its 36th year, BALA recognize outstanding achievement by builders and design professionals in all sectors of the residential housing industry including single-family production, custom, rental, affordable, interiors, remodeling, community and international. Award winners were announced at the annual NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
Additional information about the 2019 BALA winners, including photographs of the projects, can be found in the winners’ gallery.
#####
About NAHB:
The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 140,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. NAHB is affiliated with 700 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB’s builder members will construct about 80 percent of the new housing units projected for this year.
