Photography courtesy of Timberlyne
As a little girl, Mindi Pedersen’s after-school routine was to hop on her Huffy bike or pony and head out from her family’s Wisconsin home for an afternoon of adventure. Usually, a stop at her great-grandmother’s house for milk and cookies was in order, but the real destination was always her grandparents’ dairy farm at the end of the road. “Grandma and Grandpa were always home, milking cows and working on the farm,” Mindi shares.
While there was plenty to explore across the 80-acre property, Mindi’s first instinct was to make a beeline for the barn. “The hunt was on to find the kittens who were always tucked behind a haymow or in the calf pen,” she says.
Fast-forward more than 50 years, and much has changed. Her grandparents have since passed, and the original barn was decimated in a tornado in 1979. But one thing has remained: Mindi’s love for the family land. “In my mind’s eye, I’m still that six-year-old girl finding kittens in the barn,” she says with a laugh. “I had always wanted to own the farm — to milk cows, have freshly baked bread and cookies, be surrounded by family — that was my dream.”
So, when the property came up for sale, Mindi and her husband, Dave, knew it was meant to be. They had long thought of resurrecting the barn and envisioned someday building a timber frame home for their retirement years. Marrying the two visions only made sense. What emerged was a plan for a structure that would be one-part tiny home and one-part party barn, with strong ties to the original building. It would be a cozy, comfortable house for the two of them, with a separate space where family, friends and neighbors could enjoy each other’s company. “We really didn’t need a huge space for just Dave and me, but we wanted a place for all of our kids to come home and hang out, a place where we could host dinners and holiday gatherings,” Mindi shares.
“It certainly isn’t a cookie-cutter, off-the-shelf build,” declares Cody Wortmann of Timberlyne, the timber frame company the Pedersens worked with. After a year of careful planning and construction, a stunning new timber frame barn, dubbed “Whistlebee Farm,” proudly stood on the family land once again. “There was lots of heart behind the vision,” says Mindi. “It was a big labor of love, but we feel super blessed to have it all woven together.”
The main structure, with its post-and-beam frame, gambrel-style roofline and crisp white paint, is a replica of the old dairy barn. “We wanted to honor the history of the barn — the authenticity of it,” Mindi expresses. The floors, made of 12-inch rough-sawn planks crosscut to highlight the saw marks, echo the character of an old granary floor. Adding another nod to the past, the original barn door now hangs on one wall. “Again, we wanted to maintain the integrity of what was once there,” she says.
The interiors of the main barn, which register an impressive 32-by-60 feet, are simple and straightforward. The flexible, open space is easily transformed into a community dance hall, church gathering place or central spot for family celebrations. A few surprises sprinkled throughout keep the barn feeling special. For example, the upstairs loft serves as a play space for the grandkids and favorite spot for sleepovers. “Dave and I were very intentional about the design of the barn,” asserts Mindi. “We carved out nooks under the stairs and the loft where kids can find hiding spots and hidden treasures.”
Their full-time living quarters, which take the form of a cozy lean-to attached to the larger barn, are equally special. At just 900 square feet, the space is modest and unassuming — something that Cody believes is particularly revealing. “The building’s design reflects the selflessness of this really special couple,” he says. “Making their living space smaller in relation to the larger gathering area really shows the meaning behind the whole project.”
While the cozy quarters may be a study in altruism, they’re also a prime example of smart small-home planning. “A bigger space doesn’t necessarily mean a bigger life,” reflects Mindi. “You can have a really good quality of life in a small space.” Mindi leaned into form and function, with design strategies and storage solutions that would make the space functional yet inviting. An open floor plan and high ceilings help the space feel spacious, while built-in storage and concealed technology and appliances maximize efficiency and keep the aesthetic clean and uncluttered.
“But it’s not all about function,” Mindi reminds. “Spaces should feel cozy and comfortable, too.” To achieve this balance, she focused on the feelings evoked by her design choices, from colors and finishes to decor pieces. “If it feels good to me, it should be in my space,” she says.
That warm, feel-good atmosphere translates to all who enter. “It’s a place where our neighbors, friends and family can walk in and be comfortable and have fun,” says Mindi’s husband, Dave. “It’s not a show-off place; it’s a place to be shared.”
Home Details
Square footage: 900 (home), 2,780 (Barn)
Bedrooms: 1
Baths: 1
Timber Provider/Designer: Timberlyne
Timber Package Cost: $86,000 (starting price for similar design)
