Reframe the large forward facing table to a gambrel form. That’s traditional “barn” and probably the easiest and cheapest way to give it character.

I am just envious of the size of the barn!!!

What goes in it?

That’s a horse barn? Do horses actually occupy this space?

Its perfectly symmetrical so by definition its balanced. What spaces are behind the windows?

Thanks everyone for the kind words! Yes, Virgil, we should have had plans! The horses live on the first floor in the back, the second floor is hubby’s office and sleeping quarters for guests. Behind the big windows is an open space with a loft behind it looking out of the windows.

I think what is bothering me is the wide open space to the sides of the big windows and on top. I feel like it’s too much siding. My classical painting nature wants me to look at it with the golden mean, but I may be being too picky?

Maybe a large louver above (even false), round if you wish. The sides I would leave and use a place for large Christmas wreaths.

You can never achieve the Golden Mean by accident, after the fact.

Stop and rejoice that your building approach was as good a result as it is.

Thanks, everyone! And Virgil you’re right- I am grateful that it turned out as well as it did! I appreciate the comments.

Perhaps painting it red would help. Which red? Barn red of course.

Virgil's right.

That looks like the Taj Mahal of horse barns! I would move the horses and furniture in, and enjoy the space.

The horizontal windows are a little severe.

I would bring In large & fast-growing trees not to wall off the barn but to have some foreground/middle ground/ background context. The building is done, it’s not that bad, barns have a long history of being large utilitarian necessities not formally designed anyway.

Beautiful barn! Where's the cupola? That's what is missing ;)

Give your husband a break! Tell him it's done! ;)

Agreed, amazingly nice barn, in fact shockingly good for an ‘organic’ design. Enjoy!

You have a lovely building! And I think it looks pretty darn good as is. The only thing I might try is perhaps a bit of wood trim in the peaks of your large gables. The wood trim should be the same colour as your front door. A large cupola would look good on your roof also.

Wisteria on the front?

Not unless you want the barn torn apart! Wisteria here has taken half the barnyard, been destroyed by the telephone company, and still grows everywhere, including through an outbuilding.

Thanks again, everyone! I appreciate the comments. I too think some landscaping would help, and I’ve been toying with the idea of cupolas (originally I decided no since they would be only decorative).

The road is literally right next to the building and I only have about three feet of gardening space to work with. For the effect I would be looking for:
I could plant them across the road and not right in front?
Or does anyone know of trees that are narrow and won’t destroy my foundation?
Or I could build a trellis away from the building so the plants couldn’t attack the frame of the building? I’ve seen pics of that from California, but where I live in the south more often you see vines consuming the entire building...

You guys are great, thank you!

A lot of barns around here have their brand on their barn. You could put something on either side of your large center windows or just leave it for Christmas decor. Beautiful barn, our horses would love itI'll take a picture of our traditional barn and share .

How about an awning?

Daughter giving love to our senior horse! We have a cattle farm and are proud of our century farm, like many other barns around that have their name or brand on their barn. (Wish they hadn’t put tin on 30 yrs ago but I believe it saved on property taxes.) Think Yellowstone but without all of the drama lol!

shead beat me to it...add a cupola!

Re: landscaping - I would do layers of trees from a distance to frame the views of the building from the road. Barns don’t traditionally have foundation plantings up close or formal landscaping.

If you are going to add a roof structure, make it large enough to be occupied and have windows on all sides. A minimum size would be 8ft square.

The dormers are traditional residential features which seem contradicted by the horrizntal windows below them. You might replace those windows with double-hungs or a series of small awning windows.

How about two huge (two story) barn doors that cover the front door and windows above on the front gable when closed and slide to either side when open.

Do you suppose it may be time to give your bank account a rest, enjoy what has been built and turn your creative energies elsewhere?

Afrer all, it's a super lovely barn that puts many others to shame.

Beautiful barn! I vote for a cupola, a metal awning over the large window, and two large light fixtures mounted and centered on either side of the window.

Another and less expensive fix could simply be a large architectural emblem over the large window. In Tennessee, many barns have large squares of quilt looking wood blocks.

Example: Take a look at many different barn quilts.

Hi everyone, I’ve been thinking about all your suggestions and I really appreciate them! I’m gong to try to focus on landscaping and put up big Christmas wreaths. I’m concerned that adding cupolas etc is throwing money at it and won’t solve my major design issues... you guys are right that without a proper plan we are lucky it turned out as well as it did! We can always add something later! I guess that is beauty of learning how to build ourselves!