One Story or Two? The Cost, the Comfort, and the Resale Math
One Story or Two? The Cost, the Comfort, and the Resale Math
For the same total square footage, a two-story house generally costs less to build than a one-story house, because two of the most expensive systems in a home, the foundation... Read more...
Metal Roof or Asphalt Shingles? Cost, Lifespan, and the Noise Question
Metal Roof or Asphalt Shingles? Cost, Lifespan, and the Noise Question
A metal roof costs $500 to $1,600 per square installed and lasts 30 to 80 or more years, according to 2025 data from HomeGuide. An asphalt shingle roof costs $300... Read more...
The Stonecrop Modern Farmhouse Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Stonecrop Modern Farmhouse Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Stonecrop modern farmhouse plan is a 2,416 square foot single-story home with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage. It carries modern farmhouse character without running up square... Read more...
Owner Builder: What You Save and What You Take On
Owner Builder: What You Save and What You Take On
Building a house yourself, meaning acting as your own general contractor, can save you the general contractor's fee, which typically runs 10 to 20 percent of the total construction budget.... Read more...
What It Actually Costs to Turn Raw Land Into a Buildable Site
What It Actually Costs to Turn Raw Land Into a Buildable Site
Turning raw land into a buildable site commonly costs $20,000 to $60,000 or more before the first slab is poured, covering clearing, a driveway, a well, a septic system, and... Read more...
The Pansy Hill Country House Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Pansy Hill Country House Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Pansy Hill Country house plan is a 2,483 square foot single-story home with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a 3-car garage. It is a two-time 2020 Build Magazine Award... Read more...
Allowances Are Where Home Budgets Quietly Break
Allowances Are Where Home Budgets Quietly Break
An allowance is a placeholder budget in a construction contract for an item you have not selected yet, such as cabinets, flooring, or light fixtures. The risk is not the... Read more...
The Candytuft Traditional House Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Candytuft Traditional House Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Candytuft traditional house plan is a 2,763 square foot single-story home with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a 3-car garage. It has been one of the most adapted plans... Read more...
Barndominium Interiors That Do Not Look Like a Warehouse
Barndominium Interiors That Do Not Look Like a Warehouse
A barndominium interior avoids feeling like a metal building through four decisions made on the floor plan, not through decorating after the fact: ceiling treatment, wall material, window placement, and... Read more...
How Much Land Do You Need to Build a House?
How Much Land Do You Need to Build a House?
How much land you need to build a house comes down to four things stacked together: the septic system, the well, your property line setbacks, and the driveway. Septic is... Read more...
The Wallflower Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Wallflower Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Wallflower barndominium plan is a 1,841 square foot single-story barndominium with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and an attached 3-car shop and garage. It comes out of the Right-Sized Plans... Read more...
Marriage Counseling vs. Home Design: When You and Your Spouse Want Two Different Houses
Marriage Counseling vs. Home Design: When You and Your Spouse Want Two Different Houses
One of you wants the shop. One wants the gourmet kitchen. The budget covers one of them, and somewhere in the last few weeks this stopped being about the house.... Read more...
Shop With Living Quarters: Layouts That Separate Work From Home
Shop With Living Quarters: Layouts That Separate Work From Home
A shop with living quarters is a single building that combines a working shop with a full residence. The layouts that succeed separate the two halves for four things: sound,... Read more...
Is Open Concept Over? What to Keep Open and What to Close Back Up
Is Open Concept Over? What to Keep Open and What to Close Back Up
Open floor plans are not going out of style. The fully open plan is. A 2023 survey cited by the National Association of Realtors found preferences nearly split down the... Read more...
The Cedar Modern Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Cedar Modern Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Cedar modern barndominium plan is a 2,625 square foot single-story home with 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, and no attached garage. As of August 2026, two versions are in... Read more...
Barndominium Kits vs Barndominium Plans: What a Kit Actually Includes
Barndominium Kits vs Barndominium Plans: What a Kit Actually Includes
A barndominium kit is a package of structural building materials, typically the frame, the roof, and the exterior sheeting, along with engineering for that structure. It is not a finished... Read more...
The Biggest Regrets When Building a House, and Exactly When Each One Could Have Been Caught
The Biggest Regrets When Building a House, and Exactly When Each One Could Have Been Caught
The biggest regrets when building a house are almost never about finishes. They are about storage, light, room proportion, and how people move through the house. Nearly every one of... Read more...
The Carnation #2 Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Carnation #2 Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Carnation #2 barndominium plan is a 2,000 square foot single-story barndominium with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on a 50-foot by 40-foot footprint. It is the plan most people... Read more...
The Cottonwood #1 Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Cottonwood #1 Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Cottonwood #1 barndominium plan is a 1,604 square foot single-story barndominium with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and no attached garage. It may be the most efficient design in... Read more...
The Redbud Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Redbud Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Redbud barndominium plan is a 1,813 square foot single-story barndominium with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and no attached garage. It is one of the plans we sell most... Read more...
The Aspen Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Aspen Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Aspen barndominium plan is a 2,243 square foot single-story barndominium with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage, and it anchors one of the two hallmark plan series... Read more...
The Maple Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Maple Barndominium Plan: Floor Plan Details and What to Expect
The Maple barndominium plan is a 2,400 square foot single-story modern farmhouse barndominium with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, and it is the plan that started the most-requested series we... Read more...
Stone modern farmhouse home with a covered porch, board-and-batten gable, and metal roof accents on a landscaped lot, designed by Fry Design Co.
Barndominium vs Traditional Home: What's Different and What's Better
Barndominium or traditional home? We compare the two the way we would across the table, on cost, layout, durability, and resale, so you can decide which one fits your land... Read more...
Fry Design Co. modern farmhouse shown transitioning from architectural sketch to finished home, with rolled blueprints and a pencil in the foreground, representing the design-to-build process.
Stock Plans vs Custom Design: Which One Fits Your Build?
Stock plan or custom design? One is faster and costs less, the other fits exactly. Here is how to tell which one fits your build, plus the middle path most... Read more...
Modern barndominium with black metal roof, board-and-batten siding, covered patio, and in-ground pool lit at dusk
The Real Cost to Build a Barndominium in 2026
The honest answer to what a barndominium costs is that it depends on a few decisions you control. We break down price per square foot, the five things that move... Read more...
OKC custom home design featuring a vaulted cedar porch, black-frame windows, and resort-style pool and spa
Designing a Custom Home in Oklahoma: What to Expect From Concept to Breaking Ground
Thinking about building in Oklahoma? Here is the honest, step-by-step path from your first conversation to break ground, including how you can walk through your home in 3D before a... Read more...
Willow Plan modern farmhouse barndominium by Fry Design Co., a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 2,217 square foot exterior 3D render
From Plan to Permit: The Custom Home Timeline in Oklahoma (2026)
Most custom home builds in Oklahoma run six to twelve months from foundation to move-in, with the full plan-to-permit-to-keys timeline taking eight to eighteen months. Fry Design Co. walks through... Read more...
Aspen #1 Plan barndominium garage and exterior, 4 bed 2.5 bath 2,243 sq ft custom home by Fry Design Co. in Oklahoma
Barndominium vs ICF vs Stick-Built: Cost, Durability, and Resale Compared (2026)
The three most common ways to build a custom home in Oklahoma in 2026 are a barndominium, an ICF home, and a stick-built traditional. Each has a real cost edge,... Read more...
All House Plans Are Not Created Equal: What a Complete Set of House Plans Includes
All House Plans Are Not Created Equal: What a Complete Set of House Plans Includes
The five drawings every buildable custom home plan set must include, and why most online and builder plans leave too much for the field. Read more...
Two-story modern farmhouse barndominium with wraparound porch and three-car garage designed by Fry Design Co. in Oklahoma, illustrating a mid-range turnkey build in the 2026 cost guide.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Barndominium in Oklahoma? A 2026 Pricing Guide
Most Oklahoma homeowners get vague answers about barndominium costs. Here are the real 2026 numbers: $160 to $225 per square foot turnkey, plus the hidden line items, financing realities, and... Read more...
Left side elevation of the Passionflower Plan, a 497 square foot one-bedroom cottage barndominium by Fry Design Co. in Oklahoma.
Cottage Floor Plans Under 1,200 SF: 11 Designs From Fry Design Co.
Looking for a small home that does not feel small? See 11 cottage floor plans under 1,200 SF from Fry Design Co., from a 497 SF studio retreat to a... Read more...
Front elevation of the Maple 1 barndominium plan, 2,400 sq ft, 3 bedroom 2.5 bath, by Fry Design Co.
Inside the Maple Plan Series: How to Choose the Right Custom Home for Your Family
The Maple Plan Series from Fry Design Co. is a family of three barndominium floor plans built around an open central living core, a private primary suite, and full-width covered... Read more...
Overwhelmed by Custom Home Decisions? Here’s How to Tackle Architect vs Builder, Budget vs Vision, and More
Overwhelmed by Custom Home Decisions? Here’s How to Tackle Architect vs Builder, Budget vs Vision, and More
Before you break ground, you have to make a choice. Who do you call first: the builder or the designer?It’s a question that seems simple but has major impact on... Read more...
Painted Dreams The Willow Plan (Part 4)
Painted Dreams The Willow Plan (Part 4)
In this last installment of our watercolor series, The Willow Plan captures the perfect balance of warmth, symmetry, and livable design. Discover how this charming home comes to life in... Read more...
Painted Dreams Fremont A Stock Plan (Part 3)
Painted Dreams Fremont A Stock Plan (Part 3)
The Fremont A is the third home in our Painted Dreams watercolor series, a warm, inviting modern farmhouse that combines timeless style with everyday functionality. From its white brick façade... Read more...
Painted Dreams Kunkel Residence (Part 2)
Painted Dreams Kunkel Residence (Part 2)
The Kunkel Residence is the second home in our Painted Dreams watercolor series, a modern design that proves simplicity can still feel warm and inviting. With its clean lines, natural... Read more...
Painted Dreams: Martin Residence (Part 1)
Painted Dreams: Martin Residence (Part 1)
We’re kicking off our Painted Dreams watercolor series with the Martin Residence, a bold, barn-inspired home that’s as inviting as it is impressive. Its rustic charm and soaring great room... Read more...
The Ultimate Guide to Fireplaces in Barndominiums and Custom Homes
The Ultimate Guide to Fireplaces in Barndominiums and Custom Homes
Looking to add comfort and character to your custom home or barndominium? Explore the most popular fireplace styles, layout tips, and practical features to help you choose the perfect hearth,... Read more...
Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Stock House Plan
Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Stock House Plan
Thinking about building a home in 2025? Barndominiums offer flexibility, faster construction, and long-term value, making them one of the smartest home investments today. Discover why more homeowners are choosing... Read more...
Top 10 Must-Have Barndominium Features in 2025 (Homeowners & Experts Agree)
Top 10 Must-Have Barndominium Features in 2025 (Homeowners & Experts Agree)
Thinking of building a barndominium? Discover the top 10 features homeowners and design experts are prioritizing in 2025: from open layouts and high ceilings to big tiled showers and even... Read more...
Barndominium vs. Stick Frame: Which Build Is Right for You?
Barndominium vs. Stick Frame: Which Build Is Right for You?
Trying to decide between a barndominium or a stick-frame house? Both offer unique advantages in terms of cost, design, and functionality. At Fry Design Co., we design both styles and... Read more...
The Maple Plan
What Can You Fit in a 1,500, 2,000, or 2,400 Square Foot Home?
Not sure how much space you need for your first home? In this guide, we break down what you can typically fit in 1,500, 2,000, and 2,400 square feet, complete... Read more...
A black barndominium design, designed by a barndominium designer based in Oklahoma.
Black Beauty: The Rise of Black Barndominium Design.
Gone are the days when white and beige dominated barndominium color palettes. In the world of contemporary home design, black has emerged as a daring choice, bringing a sense of... Read more...