viewsbeyondaswewantedthemtobethemainfeatures
ofourhome.Thebeams,forinstance,addsomuch
characterandI lovethecombinationofoldandnew,
whichis alsoreflectedintheneutralcolourschemewe
havemixedwithshotsofcolour.’Laurafeelsit’sthenatural
decorandthecalmit createsthatmakesthishousefeel
likehome.Andlivingherehasliveduptoallofthe
couples’expectations.‘TheCotswoldsareonourdoorstep
sowelovetogohikingandwe’veeventakenupclay
pigeonshootingatthelocalclub.Buthavinglike-minded
peopleintheadjoiningbarnsmakeslivingherefeellike
beingpartofa familyandweenjoyspendingtimewith
them,especiallyforourcinema nights in our lovely
neighbour’sartstudio.’
Butit’swhathappensbeyondthewallsoftheirhomethathasreallyfulfilledLauraandMike’sdreamsofrural
living.‘Wehavelivedinthebarnfortwoyearsnowand
haveespeciallyenjoyedwatchingtheseasonschange–
youtendnottobeasawareofthatinthecity.Summertime
feelslikeweareonholiday,andatChristmasthebarnis
magicalasthebeamsaredrapedinfairylightsandholly.
Butit’sthosenightsinthehottub– eveninwinter– when
wegettomeetouranimalneighboursthatreallymakethis
the rural retreat we dreamed of when we lived in Solihull.’
Garden
Thegardenwraps
aroundtwosidesof
thebarnandhas
different areas to relaxwaRwicksHiRe BaRn