You might know Gabrielle Mooney for her talent in singing and songwriting. She also has a well-known brother in the music business (Shay of Dan and Shay). Dave and I adore the Mooney family and were honored when they asked us to step in and help prepare a guest house/writing studio for Gabby in preparation for her upcoming wedding to her fiance, Graylan Stone. We wanted this project finished so that Gabby could move in while we renovated her great-grandmother’s home as their main home. 

For this project, we took on an old barn and turned it into a guest house/music studio/wellness suite for this sweet newlywed couple. Gabby recently had brain surgery and has been recovering from the scary and traumatic health scare. Our goal was to create a space where she could not only continue to write her music, but also have everything she needs for her path to full recovery. And since Gabby and Gray are surrounded by a big, happy, loving family, we also wanted to give them a place they could all gather together.

BEFORE

Before we got started, the barn was a big open space with tons of spiders, dust and, overall, just not a welcoming place. There were hay bales where the patio now is. Actually, you might recognize this area as the spot where Gabby shot one of her music videos right in front of the hay bales. We moved the hay bales out and made this spot into a patio for outdoor dining. The patio will be a great spot to host guests and family, plus it’s right next to where they got married! 

For the exterior of the barn, we added new siding all around, a new roof and a new front entrance. The front door and the sliding glass door on the side of the barn are both framed in black to create a bold contrast to the white siding and create a more modern look. For the front door, we chose a dark green color that matches the cabinets inside the barn, and made the entrance appear larger by adding black wood paneling around the front door. Last, we added new lighting and fresh landscaping.

AFTER

SOURCES

Flag | Allegiance Flag Supply

Front Door Light | Kichler

Outdoor Fan | Big Ass Fans  

Outdoor Furniture | Howse  

Windows | Weather Barr

Exterior Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Graphite

Front Door Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Dark Olive

BEFORE

Before the remodel, the inside of the barn was used as storage space. Now, when you walk in the front door, you enter a modern, yet cozy living room with plenty of seating for guests. The barn’s high ceilings needed some detail, so we added wood paneling to honor the barn.  The wood detail, fabric window treatments and the different textures of the rug and cushions all soften the space and make it cozy. For a special touch, Dave built a guitar stand to meet the mood and intentions of the space. Gabby can now hang her guitars and showcase them in a way that adds her signature to the room.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Fan | Kichler

Guitar Stand | Custom by Dave Marrs

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Simply White

BEFORE

Gray and Gabby really wanted an open, full kitchen. With the small amount of space we had, it was a bit of a challenge to find a way to include all the appliances and cabinets needed, plus a full-sized dining table that could host their large, close family. We had to be smart about maximizing the space. For the cabinet color, we went with a dark green color which looks sleek and modern against the black appliances. We didn’t have room for an island, so Dave built a large, custom dining table instead and inscribed one of her song lyrics into the wood.

AFTER

SOURCES

Appliances | Smeg 

Faucet | Atmosphyre

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Runner | Turkish Trunk

Table | Custom by Dave Marrs

Cabinet Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Dark Olive

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Simply White

BEFORE

Since the barn was previously a large open space, we needed to build a dividing wall to separate the living room and kitchen from the bathroom and gym. The new bathroom is on the other side of the kitchen wall. Before we got started on the project, I had gone through the barn and found this old trough-style sink. It was pretty gross, but we were able to get it resurfaced and it adds so much character and is original to the barn. We built a full bathroom, complete with a shower. The fun pink color is a joyful touch that radiates Gabby and Graylan’s happy personalities.

AFTER

SOURCES

Mirror | Amazon

Soap Dish | Amazon

Hand Towel Holder | Amazon

Shower Tile | Daltile

Wall Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Sulking Room

On the other side of the barn, we created a beautiful wellness spot for Gabby. She loves to work out and, with her recent surgery, she really wanted a space to focus on her health. We added wood paneling around the walls to create that spa feel, and Dave built a beautiful, custom sauna in the corner. It’s a perfect spot for her to relax in after a good workout. We also put mirrors along one of the walls to add to the intentions of the space and make the room look a bit bigger. Some extra touches include new workout equipment and a beverage cooler under the stairs.

SOURCES

Workout Equipment | goTRG

Wall Paneling | Woody Walls

Rug | Turkish Trunk

Art | Juniper Print Shop

Cabinet Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Drop Cloth

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Simply White

We added a staircase and a second floor with a large picture window overlooking the fields. The new loft has a space for guests to sleep, and it doubles as a writing studio. Shay had told us that Gabby would love a grand piano, so I found a gorgeous antique piano and the perfect spot for it. We put it near the balcony so she can look out the windows while she writes and plays. 

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture & Art | Howse

Rug | Turkish Trunk

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Simply White

Photo Credit: Mike Davello