A Sanctuary Wrapped in Steel
Story by Kasey Lawson | Photo by Mark Fulkerson
Not many people could look at some aged pieces of metal that once held tons of grain and think, “This would make the perfect backyard retreat.” But after seeing the remains of a silo that was disassembled several years ago, that’s precisely what Frank Bohlmann envisioned.
And it’s just what he achieved, too.
Bohlmann’s toolkit to take on this innovative rebuild includes much more than just a hammer and nails. He also possesses creative insight and has four paternal generations of builders that informed his building acumen.
“I have been on job sites since I was probably 7 or 8 years old, and I am an engineer,” he said, so he was more than equipped to revive this structure, which measured about 18 feet in diameter and 20 feet tall.
The rebuild and restoration was not the typical do-it-yourself transformation, and it took 2½ years to complete, Bohlmann said. Although he did build most of the silo work himself, he noted that his next-door neighbor and stepdad both provided significant assistance during the process.
Bohlmann said he did all the design work, though.
“I had a vision of what I wanted and spent much time engineering,” he said. “I drew up everything to my liking and started building.”
In August of last year, his plan came full circle both literally and figuratively.
“We wanted to leave the lower area wide open because we did not want to block our view of the lake,” Bohlmann said. “We have a patio set up down there. We have a glass of wine in the evenings and watch the world go by.”
Bohlmann said he modified his design during the building process to enhance the use of the space. He noted that the upper level initially was going to be open like the lower level, but “I decided to close it in, and as we progressed I thought this would make a great office. So it’s an office, and we also have a sleeper up there.”
The space comes in handy when the Bohlmanns have guests. He said he has stayed in the silo when visitors come calling, and has had relatives stay in it, too. The building is completely wired for electricity, air conditioning and internet amenities.
Bohlmann said the weathered but resilient structure has exceeded his expectations by serving as a multifunctional space “ready to live in,” and it serves as a haven that the Bohlmanns and their guests have come to appreciate.
“At first my wife thought I was crazy for buying a silo, but now she loves it,” he said, “Everyone who visits is interested in seeing it, and I am always interested in showing it. It has been a passion of mine for a couple of years now.”
The silo continues to be a treasured piece of restored architecture for Bohlmann, who put a lot of love into it when giving it new life and purpose. He said it was painted when he received it, so he decided to strip the paint off to restore its authentic silo look – and, in doing so, he uncovered a logo from Butler Manufacturing, a company that pioneered the start of the global metal building industry in 1901 (Butler Manufacturing™, 2022).
On the inside of the silo, Bohlmann enlisted help from his daughter, who has an eye for interior decorating. She subsequently had two photos pertaining to local history made in hanging canvas formats. One is of Hell’s Gate before the lake water was added, while the other is an early 1900s picture of Will Rogers in Mineral Wells, Texas, just 30 minutes from Possum Kingdom.
A cozy sofa on the upper level allows guests to sit and enjoy the view that doubles as a natural light feature, and Bohlmann said he and his daughter made sure to give the silo an atmosphere that makes it easy to sit back and relax.
Bohlmann has plans for other projects around their property but for now he and his wife plan to sit back and enjoy their steel-paneled osasis.
Frank and Kim Bohlmann, along with their dog, Piper.
In the design, Frank wanted to leave the lower area wide open to maintain the beautiful view of the lake. The Bohlmanns have a patio set up there and enjoy a glass of wine in the evenings and watch the world go by.
Bohlmann modified his design during the building process to enhance the use of the space. The upper level initially was going to be open like the lower level, but decided to close it in as building progressed he decided it would make a great office and living room space.
