Barn-style houses, with their high ceilings, exposed beams, large open-plan living spaces, hardwearing surfaces and, of course, sliding barn doors, are easy to fall in love with. And thankfully ...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lacey Harwood, a 39-year-old "barndominium" owner based one hour outside of Houston. It has been edited for length and clarity. In 2010, my ...

The bedroom featured in this Kingston listing photo is just one of many in this multibuilding compound. Photo-Illustration: ...