Country_Homes_and_Interiors_-_November_2019

addingnewplumbingandelectrics,replacing

thebathrooms,relocatingthestaircaseandtotally

refittingthekitchenandutilityroom.‘Butwetook

thelong-termviewthatif somethingneededfixing,

we’drathertackleit nowandknowwe’ddoneit

well.Thenwhenit wasfinished,wecouldsitback

andenjoythehomewe’dcreatedtogetherwithout

worryingaboutfutureproblemscroppingup.’

Thecouplewereheavilyinvolvedintherenovation;

whenthebuildingworkbeganHelenwasonsiteevery

dayandRobwasalwaysontheendofthephone.

‘Weemployedanexperiencedfamily-runbuilding

companythatwehadusedbefore,’saysHelen.‘Our

builderproject-managedtheco-ordinationofallthe

tradespeople,butthestructuralchanges,designand

interiorstylingwereverymucha teameffortledby

Robandme.Robhasa greateyefordetailandknows

exactlywhathewantswhenit comestocreatinga

spacethatworksforus,andmyroleis choosing

thecolours,textures,fixtures,fittingsandfurniture,

andpullingthewholeschemetogetheronce all the

dusthassettled.Wemakea goodteam.

‘Westartedbyknockinga bedroomandold

bathroomintoa luxuriousopen-planmainsuitefor

ourselves,completewithfreestandingbath.The

kitchen followed shortly afterwards as I knew exactly

LIVINGTHEDREAM

Exposedstoneworkmakesa barn

uniqueandwasoneofthemain

attractionsforHelenandRobHarry

Whatstoneadditions

didyoumake?

‘Thehighceilingsdemandeda

hugeheatsourceforwinter,sowe

builtthebigstonefireplaceinthe

livingroomtoaccommodatea

largelogburner.Wealsowantedto

improvethelightinthekitchen,so

weaddedanotherwindow

incorporatinga stonesurround.’

Howdidyouchoosea

masterstonemason?

‘Wecontactedanexperiencedlocal

stonemasonwhoknewhowtoblend

inthenewwiththeold.Thewindow

lookslikeit hasalwaysbeenthere.’

Anytipstoshare?

‘Beguidedbytheprofessionals;

theirskillis invaluable.Also,getthe

rightplanningpermissionand

checkbuildingregulations.’

LivingroomThecouple

commissioneda stonemason

tobuildthefiresurround,then

installedthelogburner.Fabric

sofa, DFS.Turquoisechairs,

Wayfair. Velvetsofa, Voyage

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54 COUNTRY HOMES & INTERIORS

WELSH BARN