BROOKSTON, Ind. — When it came time for Hubert Von Holten’s unique company to get a new home, he knew he would need a unique design. He also knew just who to call.

Through previous experiences, Von Holten said, he realized FBi Buildings is willing to be flexible with clients that are not cut out of the same mold as farmers of the past.

Since Von Holten is in a motorized wheelchair, he needed a shop with a very open floor plan. Little things, such as which way the doors open, made a big difference.

"They are willing to sit down and listen to what you want," Von Holten said. "It is those little subtle things that mean a lot to me."

Other builders were unwilling to change their plans, Von Holten said, adding that: “You were going to love it or leave it.”

Von Holten established a company called Life Essentials, which designs and builds lifts to help physically challenged people use other equipment. It was the fact he did not want to have to drive in his car everyday that made the Life Essentials shop even more extraordinary.

Von Holten, along with his business and life partner Kathy Smith, wanted their home to be, not just close to their business, but directly in it.

Therefore, half of their Brookston manufacturing facility is used in the business and the other half is what Von Holten and Smith call home.

While the unusual living quarters gave the couple problems with financing and insurance, it was not a problem for the builder.

"They worked with me," Von Holten beamed. "And they take pride in everything they do."

Chris Hartter, project sales consultant with FBi, said the company is seeing a trend in people who want to combine their busi-ness and home all into one.

"It is a trend right now," he said, explaining the main reason for the trend, other than the convenience factor, is the fact that people can get a lot of space for their money.

While every person in the industry may not want a home directly in their shop, Von Holten and Smith represent a growing number of people in the industry who want products to suit their needs and budget. Like Von Holten’s shed, Hartter said most people in the agriculture industry want the most building for their buck.

With equipment growing in number and size on farms, this is something that is important, Hartter said.

One state-of-the art feature Von Holten opted to use was heated flooring throughout the building. Hartter said heated flooring “is the Cadillac of all amenities right now.”

While the cost may be more expensive, he said, the safety and usability of the shed also increases. More and more farmers also want their entire shop to be heated and air-conditioned so they can work all year, Hartter said.

FBi is a family-owned business in Remington, Ind. For more information on FBi buildings, call (800) 552-2981 or visit www.fbibuildings.com.