Call of the Wild

April 2, 2025

Words by Gloria Gale | Photos by Josie Benefield

A Texas-style weekend getaway is a short drive away for one local couple.

ndeniably, we’re an industrious lot, considering we’re taught to work hard and, regrettably, not play enough.

Not so for one busy couple, Chris and Carrie. They are no strangers to hard work, but they have recently realized that, hey, it’s time to enjoy life from another vantage point.

Already living comfortably but ready to consider moderating their busy schedules, they decided to investigate a dose of countrified living. The couple and their two Dobermans wanted to find seclusion on rural acreage south of Kansas City in a simple weekend retreat.

After investigating several properties, Chris and Carrie settled on 20 acres of woods and fields with an unfinished building on a site not five minutes from their primary residence.

“The couple initially wanted a metal building much like a barndominium for their weekend retreat. But there were restrictive city codes, so they turned to more conventional residential construction as an alternative. That’s when I stepped in,” says Jill Tran of Tran + Thomas Design Studio. “I see all types of buildings—both residential and commercial—but because this wasn’t a barn, but rather a residential house with a smaller footprint that would eventually deliver all the creature comforts, I had to focus on a plan keeping practicality in mind.”

Partnered with Chris Van Horn, general contractor/remodeler of CMP Construction, the team built out the weekend retreat as a much-needed sanctuary for the couple. It was never intended to be a primary residence but still needed to fit all the amenities within its 2,000-square-foot framework.

“Upon initial inspection, what we saw was essentially a ‘white box,’” Van Horn says, referring to construction in which the interior space of a structure is left unfinished or minimally finished. The HVAC, plumbing and electrical were in place, and some drywall was up, dividing space into a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, a powder room and a primary suite.

“However, along with Jill, my task was to turn this place into a home,” he adds.

After signing off on the plans, the team spent about nine months on the job.

“Much of the construction time went smoothly,” Tran notes. “I came in with my interiors concept to ultimately revamp an original attempt that didn’t meet the couple’s ideas.”

A primary sticking point was durability.

“Because the couple has two Dobermans, the materials we picked had to be able to contend with the dogs—nothing too precious,” Van Horn says.

That extended to furnishings, as well.

“Since the dogs will eventually find their way onto the furnishings, we used commercial-grade fabrics that provide a soft feel with stain resistance,” says Tran, an animal lover herself. “The floors, in particular, are luxury vinyl tile, which is a beautiful rendering with a tough finish. The final look turned out to be very handsome—one that lures the homeowners to visit more often.”

Because this project was made for weekend fun, it also needed to accommodate all of the couple’s ‘toys.’ That line item was easily checked since one side of the building measures a 60’ x 60’ garage with the 40’ x 40’ adjacent living area—plenty of room for a tractor, motorcycles and sports gear that needs sheltering.

But the draw for locating in this wooded property wasn’t just because of the remoteness. It’s not every day that you can see so much wildlife when living in suburbia.

According to Carrie, the more they stay here, the more they love it.

“It’s been a valuable lesson to live within the realm of the wildlife, including fostering hives of bees, deer that often circle around, curious raccoons, coyotes and a wild turkey among all the critters that call this woods home,” she says.

The increased connection to nature has made the original dream evolve.

“Because my husband and I love the outdoors and love to entertain, it’s becoming clear that we want to eventually raise our own food, continue to make honey and appreciate the good life that the country affords,” Carrie says.

Interior Designer: Tran + Thomas Design Studio, @tranthomasdesign

Contractor: CMP Construction, @cmpremodelkc

Resources

Contractor: CMP Construction Bathroom Wallpaper: Innovations Sconces: Arteriors Shower Faucets: Brizo Sink Faucets: Signature Hardware

What’s a ‘barndominium’?

According to The New York Times, a barndo or barndominium combining a barn plus condominium into a livable home was coined by Karl Nilsen, a real estate developer, in the 1980s.

His initial plan was selling a kit to ranchers or farmers who housed stables on the ground floor with living quarters upstairs—a horse lover’s dream.

That never caught on, but the concept of a quick-installation metal building provided a concept that seems to be gaining popularity. Particularly with the cost of the average American home hovering around $400,000, a barndominium offers a much more affordable option.

Points to consider for a barndominium build:

• Low maintenance, considering metal is less corrosive and more durable than more conventional residential building materials.

• Building costs and ease of construction are considerably less than typical wood-framed houses.

• Flexibility of living space; open spaces, lofty ceilings and no hallways can lead to innovative designs.

• Lower insurance costs than a conventional home.