2019-08-01_25_Beautiful_Homes

decorating tip ‘Use different types of lighting,

from pendants to wall lights, to highlight features’

O

riginal stone walls, wooden

beams and an inglenook

fireplace all contribute to the

rustic charm that led Bernie

R ix and her husband Dave to fall head over

heels for this characterful family home.

‘Before we’d even stepped inside, the

beautiful features had won us over’, recalls

Bernie. ‘The gable end windows, the

waney-edge cladding and Blue Lias stone

gave the barn that rural appeal we were

looking for; something very different to

the townhouse we were living in.’

Originally built around 1850, the barn

had been converted into a dwelling in the

early Seventies. The previous owners had

renovated since then, but when Bernie and

Dave moved in, in 2016, it was time for an

update. ‘Luckily for us, the work carried out

had been done to a very high standard using

good-quality materials, including solid-oak

flooring and a handmade kitchen with a

flagstone floor,’ says Bernie.

As well as cosmetic updates, work

needed to be done on the electrics and

woodworm in the loft. The overgrown

garden was another project in itself, with

Bernie and Dave working on it at weekends.

The country-style kitchen was one of

the main draws of the property. ‘Although

it’s about 20 years old, the quality is

fantastic and we love the Shaker style of the

cabinetry,’ says Bernie. ‘We repainted the

units and added a bespoke island as a focal

point.’ Plus, the open flow of the kitchen,

dining and sitting room also makes a great

space for the family’s Labradors, Odie and

Rolo, who have free rein of the downstairs.

With no structural changes needed,

Bernie was able to put her stamp on the

interior not long after they moved in. ‘The

previous decor was fairly neutral, which

meant it was easy to look past the existing

schemes and visualise what to do with each

space,’ she says. ‘As our previous home was

modern and the furniture we owned just

wouldn’t sit right in a property of this age,

we bought several pieces at Bonds Lifestyle,

25bh | country

38 | 25bh AUGUST 2019