Barndominium-Style Shop Conversion in Liberty/Cleveland, TX
- Leanna Laubach
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
Thinking about doing a shop-to-living conversion? Here are a few things to consider.
- Heating & cooling plan: Mini-splits + spray foam can be a great combo for comfort and efficiency.
- Electrical capacity: A shop’s existing power may not be sized for a full kitchen and multiple living areas. Plan upgrades early so you’re not reworking things later.
- Plumbing routes: Even if you already have plumbing/septic, a new layout may require rerouting lines. Plan fixture locations early.
- Noise & privacy: Think about how sound carries in an open metal building—and how you want bedrooms and baths separated from the main living area.
- Storage: Closets, pantry space, and utility storage make a huge difference in day-to-day comfort — especially in an open-concept build.
A Current Project in Liberty/Cleveland, TX. Metal Shop Building into a Custom Living Space
This current project in the Liberty/Cleveland, Texas, area is a shop-to-living conversion (shop house / barndominium-style) — turning a metal shop building into a comfortable, everyday living space without losing the practicality of the structure.
We started with a metal shop building on a concrete slab, and we’re remodeling the interior into custom living quarters designed for real life: easy to maintain, comfortable year-round, and laid out to make the most of the building’s open volume.
Below are progress photos from this Liberty/Cleveland, TX. shop house conversion so far.
Downstairs is all about convenience and is set up for daily living:
Full kitchen
Laundry / utility room
Restroom
Shop to Barndominium conversion. Adding the living/bedroom area upstairs.
Shop to Barndominium conversion. Upstairs living area started.
We have Lights! Upstairs, Downstairs, Kitchen and 1/2 Bath coming together.
Shop to Barndominium conversion. Creating the common living area downstairs with living room, restroom, kitchen and utility room
Shop to Barndominium conversion. Kitchen along back wall to utilize the square footage to the max.
Kitchen opens to living area. Added extra recessed lights to allow for even distribution.
Upstairs is being built out as the private living quarters:
Bedroom
Bathroom
Closets
Extra flexible space (storage, office, hobby area, etc.)
One of the best features is the upstairs overlook that looks out over the main living area. It keeps the space feeling open and connected while still giving you that separation between living and sleeping areas.
The upstairs bedroom with wood-panels and two windows that overlook living area down below.
Spacious bedroom with large closet that doubles for extra storage space.
Wood designs used on walls to add an extra dimension to the decor.
Wood designs used on walls to add an extra dimension to the decor.
As you scroll through the photos, you’ll see the progress and the details that make a space feel like home—clean lines, solid construction, and a layout that’s made for real life.
Every project is a little different, but here’s the general process we follow on a conversion like this:
1) Plan the layout around how you live
Before any walls go up, we map out traffic flow, storage, privacy, and how the upstairs and downstairs will work together. This is where we decide things like kitchen placement, stair location, and how the overlook will feel from both levels.
2) Utilities first (so everything else goes smoothly)
- Electrical: This shop already had power, but we upgraded the service to handle the added load for a full living space (kitchen needs, lighting, Mini splits, outlets, etc.).
- Plumbing & septic: Plumbing and septic were already in place, so we rerouted lines to tie into the existing septic system in the right locations for the new kitchen and bathrooms.
3) Comfort upgrades (the difference between “a shop” and “a home”)
- Spray foam insulation: We spray-foamed the exterior walls from the inside to help control temperature and improve comfort year-round.
- Heating & A/C: We’re using mini-split systems for efficient heating and cooling with room-by-room comfort control.
4) Frame it out and start shaping the rooms
Once the utilities and comfort plan are in place, we frame the interior walls, build out the upstairs living quarters, and start turning open space into defined rooms — without making it feel closed in.
5) Finished work that makes it feel like home
This is where the space really comes together: flooring, trim, doors, closets, kitchen install, bathroom finishes, lighting, and all the details that make the home comfortable and easy to live in.
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