You may have recently heard about "barndominiums," perhaps on Fixer Upper or from scrolling through social media. Wondering what they are and why are people building them? We have you covered.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lacey Harwood, a 39-year-old "barndominium" owner based one hour outside of Houston. It has been edited for length and clarity. In 2010 ...

A20-something couple left the internet in a state of awe and jealousy after revealing how they built their “dream” barndominium from scratch—while detailing why they opted for the unique str ...