Naming Your Barndo!

When you think of residences that are named, what comes to mind?  Buckingham Palace? Graceland? Or, perhaps the most famous of all, The White House?  If you were from the small town of New Iberia in southwest Louisiana, like me, you might think of Shadows on the Teche.

While giving a home a proper moniker was considered appropriate for grand estates, historic manors and distinguished castles, today, the business of naming the family home is growing in popularity.  From beach homes to farmhouses, or cottages and lofts, families everywhere are taking pleasure in naming their houses.  In the United States you’ll find this practice has been prominent in New England for decades.  In fact, on Nantucket, house names abound.  The story goes that the island’s maritime tradition of naming boats seamlessly flowed over to naming homes as well.  And why not? Just like the décor you choose a name gives a house character.

So, let’s do it!  Let’s name that Barndo.  It can feel a bit noble and refined but also fun and whimsical all at the same time.  It can be a way to show your affection and your respect for your home.  It is another way to express your personality and give your home an identity of its own. Your Barndominium is begging for a name.  Trust me – it called – we talked!  So, dive in, you know you want to!  And I can guide you through it.

Where to start? 

Well, you might want to consider several things to get your creative juices flowing:

• Unique Features – Are there any unique features of your Barndo that you want to capture in a name?  A proud display of red barn doors could be a good reason to call your home Red Door Manor.  Is there anything that you’d like your guests to notice when they visit such as custom ironwork, a special gate, a wine cellar?  These features can become part of the name of your Barndo.

• Geological and Landscape Features – Rock quarries, mines, waterfalls, mountains, rivers, valleys, prairies, caves, tree groves – these can all factor into a name.  Think Pine Grove Barndo, The Prairie House, The Mountainview Manor.

• Interesting or Prominent Flora Nearby – Is there anything growing around your Barndo that catches your eye, that punctuates your landscape in some way or that simply pleases you?  For example, does your driveway wind around a huge oak tree? Do white bark Birch trees flank your home?  Do Bluebonnets grow wild in the springtime on your property?  Does the sweet fragrance of fruit trees welcome you home?  If so, slap the word Home, House, Ranch, Retreat or Barndo behind the feature and voila, you have a name! 

• Historical Significance – If you have converted a real barn to your primary residence or have other old buildings on the property that have some interesting history attached to them, that could be a very cool thing to fold into a name for your Barndo.  You might have some special memory growing up on the property that could be incorporated in a name.  Perhaps a famous person lived on the property or it was used for some noteworthy purpose in the past.  I heard of someone who built their Barndo on land where the first post office in the state was built.  Reportedly, the hitching post where mail carriers tied up their horses is still standing.  The name? Hitching Post House.

• Family Name – Some may want to keep it simple and call their Barndo by their last name.  The Smith House has a modest but eloquent heft to it.  It worked for William Randolph Hearst!  (Actually, there is more to that story, but never you mind…it makes my point!)

• Local Wildlife – Would any of these be fitting for your homestead? Foxhole Ranch, Brown Bear Barn, Squirrel Run?

I read an interesting story on a real estate site recently:  Someone bought a sign board as a gift for a friend’s home which was called, Light on the Cranberry.  When asked, ‘does the house overlook a cranberry bog?’  They said, ‘No, that’s how we like our vodka!’ You gotta love it!

Here are other examples taken from friends and clients:  The Flannery Family of Texas purchased The Creek House floor plan and are currently building it in the Texas Hill Country near Lampasas.  They are naming it The Blackbuck Barn.  The Martin Family in Jacksonville, Florida named their Barndo The Parsonage because the owner is a pastor.  My house is called The Creek House simply because the property sits on a creek.  Fun Fact:  The Coach House is the most popular house name in the UK. 

Your kids, your dog, your family’s story – they are all fruitful sources for naming your Barndo. 

Make It Official

Did you know, you can legally register the name of your home?  Yep, it’s a thing.  You can call your home any name you want, but if you want to register it as its official address, you will need to consult the authorities.  From what I can determine, there is not one nation-wide approval process for naming a home.  So, I recommend you begin by contacting your local City Hall and the postal service. The first order of business will be to ensure that the name isn’t already taken. And, almost certainly, you’ll still require a street or road number attached to your address.  But if it’s important to you, invest a little time, complete the paperwork, and you’ll be all official!

Name It! Brand It! Flaunt It!

Now that you have the perfect name for your Barndo, there are a few fun things you can do to show it off:

• Put it on a plaque and hang it on the house.
• Put it on wooden or metal signs for your mailbox, fence or gate plate.
• Embroider your Barndos name on linens, aprons, napkins, stationary, calling cards, throw pillows and pillowcases.  By the way, any of these makes nice welcome gifts for overnight or special guests.  For a fun and classy touch, you can insert these branded items in a small gift basket left on their nightstand – perhaps along with bath products, the WIFI password and chocolates. 
• Give it a hashtag or a home on social media, post your building or renovation process, and let friends follow along.

There you go! It’s exactly like naming your babies, only different!  So, go ahead and get creative. Just be sure to make it personal with a hefty dose of love!