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May 24, 2015, Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, Duck Crossing Farm - Leonard Bruno and Lori Bruno with horses
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By Beth S Buxbaum
The soaring wood-beamed ceilings and walls of windows are what defines Lori Bruno’s and her husband Leonard’s living space when they added an old dairy barn to expand it. Years before this expansion, Lori and Leonard, enjoyed weekends on their 45-acre property in Kintnersville. The property was purchased by her husband in 1985, before they were together. “This became our country home,” Lori explains. There was also an old bank barn that housed small farm animals. “At the time, we were living in Chestnut Hill in a renovated barn. We decided to move to the farmhouse where our horses were housed.” After living in the farmhouse for several years, Lori began to feel that the house was too small and confining. “I grew up in Chestnut Hill in a spacious, renovated carriage house,” she says. Lori also shares that she has renovated and lived in several refurbished barns. Their farmhouse, built in the early 1800s, had two bedrooms, a bath, a den, a kitchen, and a dining area. “The living space was minimal, even with a few additions over the years.”
As a local interior designer, Lori envisioned using an old barn for the expansion. “I love barns and went shopping for an old barn with a local barn builder,” she continues. Traveling out to Western Pennsylvania, in the Lancaster area, Lori’s mission was to find an old barn she could transform into additional living space. After an extensive search, she found the perfect barn and purchased it for $9000 in 2015. “I liked the color and texture of the wood, mostly for use in the interior of the barn rebuild,” she explains. The wood from the barn, which used to be a dairy barn, was Chestnut in good condition. Lori envisioned using this barnwood to create the barn’s interior living space, using the wood beams, trim, trusses, and walls. Preparation for delivery to their homestead ensued. Beam by beam, plank by plank, every piece of this 1800s barn was tagged, disassembled, delivered, and meticulously reassembled. From the floors to the roof, Lori artistically and thoughtfully curated the barn rebuild as an addition to their farmhouse.
Before beginning the barn reconstruction, they renovated the original bank barn on the property. “We needed to update the barn to outfit the space for our horses,” Lori explains. She describes the ceilings as too low, and the dry stalls were not deep enough. “We added an indoor riding arena, a viewing room, and a tack room,” she adds. After completing the bank barn renovation, Lori and her husband upgraded the farmhouse with a few alterations. “We knocked out walls to create larger spaces in the farmhouse living room and media room,” Lori continues. They built a larger mudroom, added a metal roof to the overhang porches, and built a new hot tub deck in the back of the house, overlooking the outdoor terrace and gardens.
Next, they focused on structural elements to establish a more seamless, natural flow into the addition. They removed the farmhouse flooring and replaced it with reclaimed wood. “We wanted the floors to blend with the barn addition,” Lori explains. A physical transition from the farmhouse to the barn was the next phase of the reconstruction. “We ripped out the ceiling in the farmhouse’s family room, added exposed beams and painted them white.” From this room, they connected the farmhouse to the resurrected barn with a custom-designed bridge. The bridge is a single wide plank into the barn addition. Entrance to the addition, through the farmhouse’s exterior stone wall, was accented with a custom barn door, made of reclaimed barn wood, that slides across the entranceway. A step-down leads into the wood-infused barn addition, creating a dramatic opening to the expansive barn interior. A sea of wood and windows abounds in the sprawling barn interior.
Lori pieced together the old barn like a puzzle to create the interior of their expanded living space, with expansive ceilings and walls of huge windows. “I like light and height,” adds Lori, “and I wanted a lot of natural light.” Lori’s detailed planning determined the actual placement of the reconstructed barn. “I design by space planning, visualizing the interior architecture for the layout and use of space,” Lori explains. The property is situated in an area with plenty of light. “I strategically placed massive commercial-grade windows for a greenhouse effect,” describes Lori, “to allow plenty of light in.” Ethereal by design, the interior living space is open and airy. Lori’s concept is to create an interior to reflect the landscape. “They have to work together,” she adds. Interior tones and colors are based on what is happening outside. “My designs are organic and nature-bound,” she says. Every inch of the open living space was built with wood from three of the four bays taken from the old barn. Appointed with all-natural wood beams, floors and ceilings, the barn interior design has a loftiness. Lori emphasizes that “every corner of the living space has a purpose, thoughtfully curated and functional.”
With an easy flow, the interior footprint opens into the living room, offering several comfortable seating areas. Beyond this area is a modern kitchen, which Lori explains is not a typical kitchen. A large center island, equipped with modern appliances, offers plenty of prep space, a recessed pantry, and a breakfast seating area. Rustic iron light fixtures float above, illuminating the kitchen area. Natural light is captured through the many windows and doors opening to the outdoor gardens and pergola. Accents in the dining area include a neutral-toned dining table and chairs that sit a few steps from the kitchen. A grouping of large light fixtures floats overhead. Subtle touches, such as the placement of art pieces and light fixtures, enhance a room's feel. Lori’s detailed approach to the styling of her living spaces organically defines the interior.
Consistent with her design concepts, Lori formulated the design for her studio. Sitting above the barn structure, in a loft space, Lori’s studio is bathed with light from the full wall of massive windows. Architectural features include a sloped roof entirely of wood slats and accented with beams. “Instead of using drywall on the walls, we used wood that we stained and painted to look old,” Lori adds. Wood appointments extend to the floors and furniture, infusing a rustic and cozy appeal. As a painter and designer, Lori has created a space she loves, enjoying the light and height. With views of the landscape from the huge picture window, this studio offers a calm retreat. Views of the landscape also accent the primary bedroom. A wall of windows and doors creates a natural backdrop to the loft space. Using the barn wood from one of the bays to cover the walls and floor, Lori defines this space with a natural simplicity. In the primary bathroom, accents of wood, Italian porcelain tile, and glass define the space. Features include a glass-enclosed shower, a free-standing tub and a full wall vanity. Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal the landscape and offer bucolic views. Taking in the interior’s expanse, the living space has been thoughtfully orchestrated. A rustic backdrop of all the wood elements infuses a warm, calming ambiance. With neutral-toned furnishings in greys and tan, Lori enjoyed filling the space with a mix of pieces and artistic accents, blending old and modern furniture.
Consistent throughout are the architectural features that encapsulate Lori’s design style. A masterfully designed and executed resurrection of the barn was completed in 2017. “My spaces are specially curated to make everything flow,” she adds. “My designs look like paintings,” Lori explains, “I create my spaces from an artistic point of view, with a focus on color and texture.” Enveloped in wood from floor to ceiling, this living space has a rustic earthiness that is grounding and comfortable. From any vantage point in the barn addition, one can take in the outdoors, enjoying the natural light and the scenery beyond.
Equestrian Luxury Design
With more than 35 years of experience, Lori Bruno Interiors brings a timeless, heritage-inspired perspective to residential and commercial spaces. Her work centers on equestrian luxury living, designing refined homes, barns, farm properties, and amenity spaces that blend rustic authenticity with modern sophistication. With an artist’s eye, an architect's skill, and a designer's imagination, we create luxury spaces for the equestrian lifestyle.
This spring, a new showroom opens in New Hope, offering curated furnishings, bespoke materials, and full-service design for clients to experience the signature refined equestrian luxe aesthetic.
Visit the new showroom to see some of these unique designs at Lori Bruno Interiors that are rooted in craftmanship, comfort and the equestrian lifestyle at 142 S Main St, New Hope, PA. For more information, visit www.loribrunointeriors.com; Instagram: @Lori_Bruno_Interiors.