Hidden Gate Farm: Tobacco Barn Restoration and Play Area
Tobacco Barn Restoration
Build: Restoration & Addition
Location: Versailles, KY
Collaborators: Gibson Taylor Thompson Architecture & Design
While the residence at Hidden Gate Farm is a new build, this special place has history. We are thoughtfully restoring and reimagining the original tobacco barn to serve as the farm’s dedicated workshop and equipment storage facility. Our restoration honors its heritage as a historic Kentucky tobacco barn while adapting the structure to meet the evolving needs of a working equine estate.
A commitment to authenticity is central to this project. The existing siding will be carefully removed and reused wherever possible, preserving the weathered character and patina that only time can create. The original structure will be selectively altered to allow for higher interior clearances and reinforced to improve structural integrity, ensuring the barn can serve the farm for generations to come.
At the rear of the barn, an addition will provide extra square footage and improved access to the interior. Another addition, for the workshop, will extend from one wing of the barn, balanced by a run-in shed for horses on the opposite side. These symmetrical additions maintain the visual harmony of the original building while thoughtfully integrating new functionalities to the footprint.
A combination of overhead and custom sliding barn doors will enhance access throughout the barn, allowing for larger openings and greater flexibility. Every design decision, from material reuse to the proportions of the new additions, has been made with restoration in mind. Our goal is to preserve the appearance and spirit of a historic Kentucky tobacco barn while bringing its structure and function fully in line with the current needs of Hidden Gate Farm.
Play Area
Build: Landscape & Recreation
Location: Versailles, KY
Collaborators: Gibson Taylor Thompson Architecture & Design, Contour Collaborative
This play area transforms a portion of the estate into an imaginative greenspace — a recreational haven that blends landscaping, stonework, and natural play structures.
Stone, sourced directly from the farm, takes center stage throughout the design. A handcrafted moongate welcomes visitors to the space, while a stepping stone pathway guides guests to a stone tower. The tower rises both as a climbing structure and an informal stage, inviting creative play and performance.
Expansive landscaping frames the area, using carefully-placed trees to establish a park-like feel within the broader working farm. The result is a thoughtfully-designed retreat where stone, greenery, and imagination come together; a cherished space for play and gathering amid the scenic surroundings of their Kentucky horse country home.
