I’m not sure yet of all of the construction differences, and am considering a new build for myself. I’d like to be in the treetops, so a full second story 24x36 ‘cottage-like’ home over a 3 bay garage is where i’m headed. The land and view faces south, garage or barn face will be on the northern street side. Of course I’d like the build to be as cost effective as possible, and read that one difference is the use of steel frames for fire prevention. That really appeals to me, what other factors are important here? Ty.
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There’s a FB group re: these builds.
Just be forewarned, they by & large do not tolerate people who want to actually include a barn to house livestock.
I got lots of snark by disclosing this as my intention.
But as a source for builders & materials info & questions, lots of good stuff.
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Two people I fox hunt with who built theirs specifically with horses in mind and both had the devil of a time finding a company that would even consider insuring the places.
Both were wood construction, so perhaps steel construction would facilitate finding insurance.
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Oh the irony. 
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Basically, two story house envelope are cheaper for the space involved than one story sprawled to achieve same square feet of habitation.
On the other hand, one story gives you more real access always to the whole, unless you have another outside entrance at ground level, as in a bank barn, where you can enter the house part directly from higher ground.
The disadvantage there is the bank barn part against the dirt won’t have windows and it will be hard to build and maintain a water barrier on that side.
Also, if you are talking caring for horses on the lower floor and stairs to the upper one living quarters, when you are injured or older, those stairs are going to be a serious problem.
If you go that route, maybe consider some kind of elevator?
I had a friend that did that, lower part was barn and garage, upper one house and had an elevator plus stairs.
I personally would prefer when possible to live at the same level as the barn, maybe attached to it by a walkway that would act also as a fire protection space, maybe use that space for a sunroom, or storage area?
There are as many ways to build as there are owners wanting to build and, given enough money, you can find some builder willing to give you what you want, keep asking around.
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Lol, I guess a sign of the times.
I’ll go find that group, and see what I can learn. I just spoke with a local builder who quoted me 78k for a 2 car 2 story. That includes site work, permits, plumbed, wired and I believe rocked, standard lumber build. I need a 24x36 so their estimate person will be out next week. Now iso of a barndominium builder in MA/RI/CT if anyone knows of one so I can start comparing. It’s a starting point. TY!
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I’m looking more for housing over a garage space, myself. And yes, one reason for making sure the staircase is large and inside the building is in case it ever needs to be replaced by a lift or the addition of a stair chair. I want to be able to age in place here for sure. A dumbwaiter would be really handy too lol.
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Yes!
check Southern Living for plans, the one I posted is plan # SL 1858 but there are many more
https://houseplans.southernliving.com/search/collection/301-Garage%20Plans
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I hope to build a barndominium later here on the ranch, I have to tell you having horses in the same building is not in my future, I have them a couple hundred feet away. my stalls are all cinder block and I can still hear them kicking away on feeders on the feeders in the middle of the night. no desire to be closer!
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those that do should look into French Farmhouses as these combine a barn with a house in a single floor plan
on the old Ultimate Dressage bulletin board there was a posted in New England that built a remarkable house/barn combo. It was a Saltbox style barn built into a hillside with the lower level being the barn and the upper being the house. Since it was built into a hillside the upper level was at ground level and the lower level also was at ground level making ease of entry to either level
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Living in a barndo is very loud. You will hear every footstep, every bucket slam, everything below in the barn. It is like a giant tree house - you will also hear everthing in the trees - every 5 am birdsong and every branch swinging in the storm.
And you are literally living above a barn = grain = mice =snakes.
And all my dishes migrate downstairs and I literally have to round up the coffee cups from the barn aisle.
Did I mention it is loud??
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Was that Maple maybe?
yes, if you could track her down the house they built is really nice…in your case rather than stalls the lower level could be garages
From the street view it appeared to be a standard house
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Not to worry! IF I can figure this out it will be barndo construction but a garage, not a barn housing livestock. Out of the three 24x36 bays, one will be for my car and car stuff, one will be entry and stairway, trash & recycling, and the third will be the work out stuff/ping pong table, weights. Though I’m also willing to carve out a small space for a pair of future goats for myself lol. My apartment will be in the full second story, and tbh I love waking to birdsong and the wind in the trees. It’s one reason I prefer my home on the second story. A builder is coming out today to look at the site and discuss the options. I harbor a small worry the setbacks could be an issue, we shall see…
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I built my barndaminum and live in the upstairs portion. It is three stalls underneath with a feed, tack room/living room and bedroom upstairs. I read you don’t want horses but as a note to others…the fantasy of living with your horses below is horror. You will literally fall asleep to them eating your barn down, scraping their teeth and peeling the powder coating off your brand new European stall fronts and the ultimate midnight scare of a friendly pawing competition that you mistake as a colic episode. Dont do it…its not cool at all.
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Those 2 am barn cat vs ghost kitty fights too…
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I built one. I live side-by-side with my horses in the winter. No indoor (oh, I miss my indoor!), but in the most foul of weather I can, and do, feed in my slippers. The building inspector treated the build like an attached garage, following all those requirements.
Before you build whatever you build, be sure you can insure it.
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It was slightly amusing, the Horror expressed at my wanting “stinky farm animals” sharing the building.
But it devolved into some pretty nasty comments.
So, in spite of the good info, this Elvis left the page 
@Tarlo_Farm My Plan B is to attach a Tiny Home (Park Model, no trailer) to my indoor.
Same reason as yours 
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