Country_Homes_and_Interiors_-_November_2019

(Dana P.) #1
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

>

54 COUNTRY HOMES & INTERIORS


WELSH BARN
Free download pdf