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(If your subscription is current, click here to Login or Register.)2007 - Volume #31, Issue #5, Page #23
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Dairy Barn Remodeled Into Bed & Breakfast
When retiring dairy farmers Don and Gerrie Etter said goodbye to their Brown Swiss cows in 1991, they started cleaning the barn and then remodeling it for human guests who want to stay at their 3-story Dairy Barn Bed and Breakfast near Ionia, Iowa.Gerrie admits it had been her dream to live in the bar..........
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Dairy Barn Remodeled Into Bed & Breakfast AG WORLD Ag World When retiring dairy farmers Don and Gerrie Etter said goodbye to their Brown Swiss cows in 1991 they started cleaning the barn and then remodeling it for human guests who want to stay at their 3-story Dairy Barn Bed and Breakfast near Ionia Iowa
Gerrie admits it had been her dream to live in the barn when the couple first moved from Colorado to the farm in 1970 After 20 years of milking she used her interior designer skills to transform the 38- by 64-ft barn Having worked on hotels and other commercial buildings she understood the importance of sound infrastructure: plumbing heating venting etc
The Etters installed a geothermal heating system and put in a new concrete floor but left the barn s gutter open underneath to use as a cold air vent They hired an Amish crew to add dormers and shingle the roof
They installed a constant pressure well pump to meet the needs of kitchen facilities and 11 bathrooms I never thought we d get all the plumbing done Gerrie says
The couple did much of the remodeling themselves from powerwashing the barn twice to tearing out stalls and walls to sheetrocking painting and decorating
We recycled everywhere we could Gerrie says including used fixtures from restaurants used furniture she reupholstered and the Etters own personal belongings The Etter bought new mattresses and bedding however
Wherever possible Gerrie left barn wood such as the beams exposed She covered the cement walls with vintage wood Rooms are named after some of the Etters cows: Rosie Flossie and Hyacinth for example
Besides offering eight rooms for guests on the main and second floors that can sleep 19 people Gerrie s dining room seats 32 people and there s room for overflow on the second floor In addition to breakfast she serves guests supper with vegetables from her garden and good country meals like meatloaf and mashed potatoes Guests appreciate not having to go into town for their evening meal Gerrie says and they get a kick out of dining under the same numbers that once marked cow stalls
She also feeds bus tours and caters reunions and people on retreats
We re in the middle of everything Gerrie says We re 150 miles from Des Moines and 150 miles from Minneapolis We re a good stopping place Located near the Little Brown Church The Etters also book many newlyweds and tourists
Don enjoys the B&B business It s like traveling without going anywhere Guests have come from as far as England Italy and Australia
The couple does most of the work themselves with occasional help from a daughter and granddaughter
I knew it would be a lot of work but I m a farm wife Gerrie says To me this is less work than farming
Like Don she enjoys meeting people - many come back regularly She also likes living in a barn and the view from her third floor bedroom
We re not getting rich she says You just have to enjoy what you do
They are expanding the kitchen and Don 70 and Gerrie 65 plan to run the B&B as long as they enjoy it During the slower time in winter they take a short vacation
The Etters have a website which is the best marketing tool Gerri says They are also members of Iowa s B&B guild and they re involved with the state s tourism office
People considering remodeling a farm building into a B&B should first talk with local zoning boards Gerrie suggests Regulations vary on septic systems fire exits at least two per floor in her case and kitchen licensing requirements
Cost for remodeling varies greatly The Etters saved money by doing most of the work themselves and purchasing used items They paid less than it costs to build a home that size plus they have a way to bring in income
Another benefit of living in a barn is just outside the front door
We have the most lush lawn you ever saw Gerrie laughs because it was once a barn yard
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Don and Gerrie Etter 1436 210th Ionia Iowa 50645 ph 641 394-6302; info @thedairybarn com; www the dairy barn com
Gerrie admits it had been her dream to live in the barn when the couple first moved from Colorado to the farm in 1970 After 20 years of milking she used her interior designer skills to transform the 38- by 64-ft barn Having worked on hotels and other commercial buildings she understood the importance of sound infrastructure: plumbing heating venting etc
The Etters installed a geothermal heating system and put in a new concrete floor but left the barn s gutter open underneath to use as a cold air vent They hired an Amish crew to add dormers and shingle the roof
They installed a constant pressure well pump to meet the needs of kitchen facilities and 11 bathrooms I never thought we d get all the plumbing done Gerrie says
The couple did much of the remodeling themselves from powerwashing the barn twice to tearing out stalls and walls to sheetrocking painting and decorating
We recycled everywhere we could Gerrie says including used fixtures from restaurants used furniture she reupholstered and the Etters own personal belongings The Etter bought new mattresses and bedding however
Wherever possible Gerrie left barn wood such as the beams exposed She covered the cement walls with vintage wood Rooms are named after some of the Etters cows: Rosie Flossie and Hyacinth for example
Besides offering eight rooms for guests on the main and second floors that can sleep 19 people Gerrie s dining room seats 32 people and there s room for overflow on the second floor In addition to breakfast she serves guests supper with vegetables from her garden and good country meals like meatloaf and mashed potatoes Guests appreciate not having to go into town for their evening meal Gerrie says and they get a kick out of dining under the same numbers that once marked cow stalls
She also feeds bus tours and caters reunions and people on retreats
We re in the middle of everything Gerrie says We re 150 miles from Des Moines and 150 miles from Minneapolis We re a good stopping place Located near the Little Brown Church The Etters also book many newlyweds and tourists
Don enjoys the B&B business It s like traveling without going anywhere Guests have come from as far as England Italy and Australia
The couple does most of the work themselves with occasional help from a daughter and granddaughter
I knew it would be a lot of work but I m a farm wife Gerrie says To me this is less work than farming
Like Don she enjoys meeting people - many come back regularly She also likes living in a barn and the view from her third floor bedroom
We re not getting rich she says You just have to enjoy what you do
They are expanding the kitchen and Don 70 and Gerrie 65 plan to run the B&B as long as they enjoy it During the slower time in winter they take a short vacation
The Etters have a website which is the best marketing tool Gerri says They are also members of Iowa s B&B guild and they re involved with the state s tourism office
People considering remodeling a farm building into a B&B should first talk with local zoning boards Gerrie suggests Regulations vary on septic systems fire exits at least two per floor in her case and kitchen licensing requirements
Cost for remodeling varies greatly The Etters saved money by doing most of the work themselves and purchasing used items They paid less than it costs to build a home that size plus they have a way to bring in income
Another benefit of living in a barn is just outside the front door
We have the most lush lawn you ever saw Gerrie laughs because it was once a barn yard
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Don and Gerrie Etter 1436 210th Ionia Iowa 50645 ph 641 394-6302; info @thedairybarn com; www the dairy barn com
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