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Texas antique collector decided to transform an old grain silo into a one-of-a-kind guesthouse

People’s creativity knows no bounds. With the right set of tools, support, and a little bit of imagination, anything can be made into something beautiful, trendy, and functional!

From shipping containers to school buses, you can build a house with almost anything that has the space and foundation for it these days.

As an antique collector and store owner, Amy Kleinwachter is always on the hunt for valuable or collectible items that most people won’t even give a second look.

She loves collecting various salvage materials, repurposing them, and breathing new life into them to give a space or a room more character and style. 

Amy Kleinwachter's silo guesthouse in La Grange

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

As a result, the antique collector has amassed a lot of unusual yet potential design and architectural pieces. Amy gets these unique finds from all over the world.

But perhaps her best find to date is a silo she got from a ranch not far from her home in La Grange, Texas.

The plan was to build an adorable guesthouse from the silo. A silo guesthouse would be a great addition to the farmhouse that sits on 10 acres of land.

dental window panes from an old dentist office was used in Amy's silo house

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

Since her farmhouse was also built from salvaged materials, Amy decided to use the salvaged silo as the foundation of her tiny guesthouse. 

With the help of a local contractor, Judy Kurtze, they started going through Amy’s massive collection of headboards, window frames, and sheet metals.

Building a circular guesthouse from a silo was a tall order, but Judy found a brilliant and beautiful way to make it work. 

Amy aimed for an organic look to retain its rustic and eclectic vibe

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

Some of the old windows and metal awnings that Amy had collected finally found their home in the silo guesthouse.

According to the antique collector, they fit in perfectly with the design, adding a lot of depth and ‘rugged fussiness’ to it. They add definition to a space without having to embellish it with hanging artwork.

Amy was also able to use a set of dental panes that she bought from a friend, who purchased it from a dentist’s office.

the paint weathering on walls keeps the authentic look of the farmhouse

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

Its height and width were perfect for the silo’s circular design and big enough to let in some natural light.

Inside, the adorable guesthouse doesn’t lack charming decor and cohesive style. Amy also took great care in choosing the perfect plan for the silo.

repurposed phone nook that works as a flush-mount bathroom shelving

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

It shouldn’t stick out because it looks too perfect or too random. Details like paint weathering are very important as they can help make it look more organic. 

Who would’ve thought an old phone nook could work as a flush-mount bathroom shelving? Even the old liquidation signs and champagne crates added a unique and clever touch to the living area. 

old liquidation signs from Amy's unique collection

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

the silo guesthouse's sitting area with eclectic furniture

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

Amy ingeniously turned a champagne crate into a footrest, and a pair of mismatched leather chairs and a bleached oak table were also added to the sitting area.

The result was a warm and inviting space perfect for quiet mornings or relaxing evenings. 

office table made from an old flower stand signage

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

The creative design streak continued in Amy’s little office space, where she repurposed old floral stand signage and turned it into a small office table.

In the bedroom, old wood collected from a nearby historic home was treated and sealed with a Varathane polyurethane sealant.

wooden walls that came from a nearby historic home

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

Amy advised that if you’re planning to do the same thing, you should check with your contractor or local health department first to avoid health problems caused by breathing in lead paint.  

Since the bedroom walls are textured, Amy brought in a wrought-iron queen-sized bed (it was challenging to find an antique queen) and some new linens to match. And then, she put up an oil painting that she got during one of her antiquing trips in Europe. 

silo guesthouse owner Amy Kleinwachter on her porch

Old World Antieks | Wynn Myers

This adorable guesthouse also has a front porch where family, friends, and visiting pickers can sit, talk, or have coffee while basking in the beauty of farm life.

It’s incredible how something that looks like a giant tin can could be transformed into a tiny guesthouse, complete with a bed and bath.

It may have been challenging to build a circular house, but Amy and her contractor certainly did a terrific job at converting a silo into a functional space

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RdEE

Sunday 2nd of July 2023

Where's the BATHROOM???

Friday 28th of October 2022

An amazing & beautiful accomplishment.

Helen DeGraffenreid

Thursday 27th of October 2022

I think it came out awesome I would live there. Plus being in the country. I’d be in heaven.

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