Kristan:
There are many countries in Europe, and many barns in the US that have half barn half house, where the people live on one side of the center line and the animals live on the other.
This is not an uncommon thing.
It may be uncommon in your area but the guild has published articles about such barn/houses before, about the ones they toured in Europe and about ones here in the US.
If you want to do it with your barn you may need to get a variance or special permit to legally have a duel use. A permit would allow you to legally live there.
If you just want to stay over a night or two, then insulating your tack room as suggested may work, if you don't mind using an outhouse.
To get a toilet installed you may need permits. And it has to be built right so it doesn't freeze during the winter.
Good luck with your project.
Jim Rogers
