The Cotswolds, in the heart of England, is renowned for its storybook cottages, pretty villages and cream teas, so a barn conversion might not be something you would necessarily expect. But this majestic building, however, is definitely something out of the ordinary.
Built in the honey-coloured stone for which the area is famed, this large stone barn has been renovated cleverly and sensitively into a spectacular living space that is all about scale and entertaining. A soft grey has been chosen for the window trims and doors, a perfect partner for the golden stone.
For the interior, a soft chalky palette has been used, bringing hints of Provençal charm mixed with the clean lines of Scandinavian style. There are characterful ceiling beams in many of the rooms, reminding you of the age and history of the building, and design choices such as the oversized limestone fireplace (imported from France) in the dining room, lend grandeur and elegance. A delicious surprise awaits when you explore the bedrooms to find one of the beamed rooms wallpapered in pink.
There is a final surprise as you wander through the grounds immaculately landscaped with box hedging, pleached trees and gravel pathways: through a gap in the stone wall in a courtyard, you suddenly come upon a sparkling turquoise swimming pool complete with the perfect weatherboard-clad pool house.
If a space influences how we live, then this glorious building celebrates togetherness with its myriad spaces to gather and its generous tables on terraces and in dining rooms for sunny lunches or suppers by flickering candlelight at dusk. Click through to see more . . . —Louise
Images via Light Locations
