Home Landscape Design Warm hearted

MICHELLE ETHERDEN SWAPPED HER TOWNHOUSE FOR A RURAL BARN AND CONVERTED IT INTO A COSY FAMILY HOME.
Michelle Etherden used to pass the barn thats now her home every morning on the school run. But one day a for sale sign staked outside made her look at it anew. Shed been thinking for a while that her two children. Jake, now 15, and Katie, 13, needed more space than their Victorian townhouse could provide. Here, perhaps, was the answer. With 4,000 square feet of floor space set in three - and - a - half acres it would certainly provide all the room theyd ever need. The fact that it was, at that stage, totally uninhabitable seemed a minor obstacle. I could see that it would give me the space that comes with being in the country while still being close to a town. It offered the best of both worlds really, says Michelle.
She pushed ahead with the sale, moved the family into rented accommodation and threw herself into the renovation. Fortunately, the barn had solid walls, a roof and sound timbers and footings. I was excited by the prospect of a project, says Michelle. Once we realised what a big job it was, I became a little overwhelmed but we were fortunate in that we didnt need to do any underpinning and the barn had stable walls. The floor already had a layer of concrete so we were able to put insulation over it. install underfloor heating and add another layer of concrete on top to keep it all in place. In addition, the roof was removed and insulated and new wiring was installed.
Although the bam had big doors it had no windows as such. We had tc fight to get windows on the south - facinc side as planning officers wanted to retain the look of the barn, but we needed to have a decent amount of natural light, says Michelle.

Warm hearted


The barn comprised three zones: a stable, a storage area and a dairy. Permission had already boon granted for conversion into a three - bedroom home but Michelle instructed architect Andrew Love to bring a fresh perspective to the plans. Originally the living room was sited in the stable but as that was to be the point of reception, Andy thought it would be better as a kitchen, says Michelle. Michelle worked on creating a welcoming kitchen with warmth and character, leaving brickwork exposed, retaining the rooms original features and laying reclaimed terracotta tiles on the floor. The earthy tones and rustic textures were then balanced by wooden cabinetry painted in a fresh white and topped with sleek black granite, resulting in a classic country kitchen with a contemporary edge.
The real wow - factor of this room comes from its double height. Elsewhere, in order to fit in the required number of bedrooms, it was necessary to insert an additional storey but, keen not to lose the barns natural character, Michelle commissioned specialist builders to case the downstairs reception rooms with a green oak frame. If wed put in normal ceilings it would have looked like a normal house and I think barns need added interest.
Michelle has complemented the architecture of the barn with a palette of neutral colours. I decided to stick to neutrals because of the red brick walls. Modern country furnishings and accossoiios complete the look. Aitor all the hard work, Michelle is thrilled with how the barn has turned out. Im glad I had the chance to put my own stamp on it, she says. Its lovely just having peace, quiet and, on a chilly day, listening to the crackling of the fire...
< Prev   Next >
 

Last read