New Home in Martinsburg Finished Just in Time for Holidays

Belinda, 66, and Bob Carper, 69, of Martinsburg recently moved into their new home just in time for the holiday season.

The Carpers designed their home to fit their needs as they get older, and want it to be their last move.

"It was built with the idea of low maintenance and not having to worry as we get older," Belinda said.

Their property located in Martinsburg is a one-story which is a change from their previous two-story home located about two blocks from their current property.

They pick the location along Spring Street because of the view of the pond which is a part of their backyard.

Belinda said her children grew up fishing in the pond. Now with them being adults with their own children, she can now enjoy using the pond with her grandchildren.

To build their home, she said they started with doing research for two years online on everything they wanted.

Then they drew up a plan and worked with Calvin Martin of Cove Construction to put it to paper and make it happen.

"It was really great to work with Calvin," Belinda said. "They were on top of everything."

The property is a barndominium farm style ranch home.

It features concrete floors, heat in the floors, open concept floor layout, and cathedral ceilings.

The living room, kitchen and dining room area are all open concept.

There are two bedrooms, two full size bathrooms and one half bath, and a laundry room.

Some other features of the home include a two car garage, front porch and back patio.

The wood beams on the front and back of the home were handmade by the contractors.

There is also a big yard in addition to the pond behind the property.

"I'm looking forward to being able to see my grandkids and local kids in town fish in the pond," she said.

Belinda said they started construction on the home the first week of July and it was completed about four weeks ago.

"It went faster and smoother than we anticipated," she said. "It was really exciting to watch it go up."

Belinda said they are also enjoying being able to decorate their new home for Christmas.

"Decorating for Christmas was so much fun," she said. "We have a tree, and lights up out front."

The garage also has a heated floor system which will allow them to use the space for big holiday meals which involve using a larger table.

With the front of the house featuring large glass windows, it made it a great place to watch the snow fall on Friday, November 22.

Belinda said she is looking forward to being able to watch the weather in every season from their living room.

Barndominium Style

Traditional farmhouses and classic country homes are common all throughout Pennsylvania including in Blair County and in the Cove area.

Barndominium is a style gaining traction lately that blends the rustic charm with modern convenience.

The name of this style is a combination of the words "barn" and "condominium"., and is built in the style of a barn.

These barndominium style homes are built to provide functional and comfortable living spaces.

The most obvious feature of a barndominium is its exterior, which often resembles a traditional barn with a metal roof, high ceilings, and large open spaces.

The insides can be as luxurious or as simple as the homeowner would like with modern kitchens and cozy bedrooms, and spacious loft.

Barndominiums are typically built with metal or steel frames making them more durable.

The construction method also allows for wide-open floor plans.