Neglect Romeo and Juliet. Toss out Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Wave goodbye to Bonnie and Clyde. If you would like true romance, then you could know the story of Barney and Catherine.

They met in 1990. Seven years later they married in 1997.

What makes this a real romantic story? The unbelievable getaway area — Catherine’s Fort, full with composite roofing turrets — that Barney designed and constructed for his spouse to mark their 30th anniversary.

Positioned in the midst of a 500-acre wildlife sanctuary, that is Catherine Schumacher’s sanctuary. Barney constructed it for her as a spot to loosen up and getaway. It’s there that she goes to learn and maintain her bee and butterfly backyard. She escapes there with their canine Boe and watches the wildlife wander by.

Plaque commemorating the tiny home dubbed Catherine's Castle.

“This can be a one-of-a-kind place that’s simply as particular as she is,” says Barney Schumacher. “It was a tough mission, however it was a present of my love for her.”

Constructed for North Dakota Climate

The mission began within the Spring of 2020. Barney customized the tiny 240-square-foot cottage to deal with the brutal North Dakota winter climate. He used the most effective stable and steady supplies he may discover. Cement, solid stone, brick and steel are included into the plan. Then got here the roof.

“With North Dakota excessive temperatures, wind and hail, I couldn’t use pure slate,” says Barney. “It could not stand as much as a wind-driven hail storm. That’s why I selected DaVinci composite slate. The minimal roof pitch is 12/12. And, there are turrets on the roof. I knew the DaVinci product could be the easiest possibility.”

Composite Slate the Sensible Selection

The labor of affection took Barney greater than two years to create.

“Everytime you construct a construction that’s spherical or oval, you’ve many challenges,” says Barney. “The whole lot have to be minimize to suit, which suggests every part is customized. That features the brick and solid stone, door frames, inside window sills, fascia and soffit, to and backside framing plate, every part. You’ll be able to’t purchase this stuff. So each a part of this mission was certainly a labor of affection.”

For Barney, the straightforward half truly got here when he found the DaVinci product for the roof. “I wished the look of actual slate, however not the issues,” says Barney. “DaVinci Multi-Width Slate has the look of pure slate. Nevertheless, it withstands the winds and hail we get on this space. As well as, it has a really excessive hearth ranking in case there’s a prairie hearth. So with DaVinci, we received the aesthetic attraction backed by the sensible issues. That made it an amazing selection.”

Fort Match for a Queen

Supposed as a year-round getaway, Catherine’s Fort has electrical warmth cables underneath the tile flooring, a mini break up heater and air conditioner, together with an enthralling Jotul gasoline heating range. The construction is cozy and heat even when it’s -30F exterior with a 40 mph wind blowing. As well as, it’s cool and cozy on 100 diploma summer season days.

This tiny house getaway was built to withstand harsh weather, including its DaVinci roof, which features composite roofing turrets.

Catherine could by no means want to depart her citadel with its lovely composite roofing turrets.

Inside her husband added many enviable options. There’s a tiny soaking tub, fiber optic connection to the Web for Wifi, and vintage furnishings. The inside options hand carved white oak used for the headers and window sills, together with a white oak half spherical entrance door with a 12-inch arched door jam. There’s a speakeasy window within the door, a fairy door knocker, a curved arched ceiling with Tuscany plaster end and hand-hewn rafters of white oak.

“My spouse completely loves her citadel,” says Barney. “She desires to spend each weekend she will be able to there. Catherine calls it a ‘murals’ and that’s precisely what I used to be attempting to create for her.”