Mud and Wood

Home Design & Renovation Professionals , Architects & Architectural Designers
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Mud and Wood
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Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion

A three-room cottage and three-room outbuilding were joined together by a small link extension. The sitting room, dining room and kitchen are housed in the refurbished outbuilding, which was wrapped in hempcrete to improve its thermal performance. The bedrooms and bathroom are accommodated in the original cottage. The entrance hall, utility room and shower/toilet are located in the link, built from timber-frame infilled with cellulose insulation and wrapped in wood-fibre board. The whole house is rendered in lime.
Project Year: 2019
Project Cost: €150,001 - €200,000
A three-room cottage and three-room outbuilding were joined together by a small link extension. The sitting room, dining room and kitchen are housed in the refurbished outbuilding. The bedrooms and bathroom are accommodated in the original cottage. The entrance hall, utility room and shower/toilet...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
A three-room cottage and three-room outbuilding were joined together by a small link extension. The sitting room, dining room and kitchen are housed in the refurbished outbuilding. The bedrooms and bathroom are accommodated in the original cottage. The entrance hall, utility room and shower/toilet...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The front door enters into the new link extension, which joins the outbuilding (left) to the original cottage (right).
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The entrance hall leads to the dining room to the south and to the bedroom wing to the north. The original stonework was left partially exposed to make the most of the rich character of the old buildings. The floorboards were salvaged plain-edge boards, in keeping with the aesthetic of the house.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Originally, the outbuilding consisted of three independent rooms. The dining room now connects to the kitchen to the east and to the sitting room to the west (unseen in this photo). A large opening was broken out in the south-facing wall of the dining room with spectacular views towards the Dartry...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The dining room leads into the kitchen. Large glazed double doors mean that this space can function as open-plan or can be closed off to suit the homeowners' requirements.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Natural materials were used as far as possible in the construction of this home, both for their aesthetic quality and their environmental credentials. The east-facing wall of the kitchen has fully exposed stonework. The counter-top is locally-sourced elm, which came from windfall trees. The...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The original window openings were retained. The stonework is exposed on the gable wall. The other walls have been plastered with earth. Where the stone is exposed, surface-mounted metal pipes carry the electrics.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Exposed stone, ceramic tiles, timber window, earth plaster, elm counter top - all natural materials to create a characterful aesthetic. This section of the building has been wrapped in hempcrete to improve its thermal performance while allowing the walls to breathe.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
A tiny timber frame window in the original opening of stone outbuilding looks out over the countryside.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The homeowners had salvaged a number of Belfast sinks. A bespoke elm counter top was commissioned to accommodate the sinks. A large window was broke through the south-facing wall to reveal spectacular views of the Dartry Mountains.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Natural materials and finishes form the palette for this home - stone with lime, ceramic tiles and elm kitchen counter.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Services were surface-mounted on exposed stone.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Detail of elm kitchen counter top. The elm was milled from a windfall tree.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The client salvaged some Belfast sinks. A bespoke elm counter top was commissioned to accommodate the sinks in the kitchen.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
There are large glazed double doors leading from the kitchen to the dining room. This gives the homeowners the option to close off the rooms or to have a more open-plan feel.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The stone outbuilding was wrapped in hempcrete to improve the thermal comfort in the space. The outbuilding now accommodates the kitchen, dining room and sitting room. The high-level window on the gable gives a view of the tree-tops on the western side of the house. The naturally undulating walls...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
A large window was opened out on the south elevation, which doubles up as a window seat thanks to the depth of the stone walls. The exposed stonework on the west-facing gable has been limewashed. The other walls have been plastered with earth. The west-facing high window gives a view on to the tree...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The south facing window in the sitting room doubles up as a seat. As well as bringing lots of light and heat into the room, the window offers views on to the Dartry Mountain range. This had originally been a solid stone wall with no openings. The walls are partially plastered with earth plaster....
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The high window on the west gable looks on to mature trees. At sunset, the dappled light is particularly special. At high-level, the wall has been plastered with earth. Below, the original stonework was left exposed and coated with limewash.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Original nooks and crannies were retained in the walls as much as possible. Here the whitewashed stone gable meets the earth-plastered wall.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Objects found on site during construction were kept and are now on display - clay pipes, coins, brass and glass bottles, etc.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
A new fireplace with inset stove and chimney breast were constructed in the sitting room. Natural stone was used for the hearth. The original doorway into this room was blocked up to form an alcove. Live-edge timber shelves were inserted into the alcove to form bookshelves. The original stonework...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Originally, the three rooms of the stone outbuilding were completely independent. Now, the sitting room, dining room and kitchen are all connected via large openings broken through the original stone walls. The stonework is partially exposed in areas. Earth plaster has been applied to the natural...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The sitting room, dining room and kitchen are all connected, with the option to close off the kitchen with large glazed double-doors. The natural undulations of the stone walls are plastered with earth plaster, retaining plenty of character. In some areas, the stonework has been left exposed.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The site conditions dictated that the sitting room would be raised above the dining area. This gives a theatrical separation of space. The natural earth plaster follows the undulations of the original stonework. The entrance hall can be seen through the doorway, leading on the bedroom corridor.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The hallway leads on to the newly formed corridor serving the bedrooms and bathroom. The original stonework of the cottage walls is left exposed, bringing plenty of character and a sense of history to the interior. The floorboards were salvaged. The original door was stripped and re-used for the...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Original stone in the corridor was left exposed.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The view along the corridor from the master bedroom back towards the entrance hall.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The stonework in the master bedroom was exposed and repointed with lime. A salvaged stove was set into the original fireplace. A 50 year old painting of the house by the homeowners' ancestors hangs on the wall.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
A new partition wall separates the guest room from the corridor. The original fireplace remains intact. Exposed stonework has been repointed with lime. The original door, including ironmongery, has been stripped back and re-used.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The original front porch of the cottage was intended to be used as a book nook. It has since been repurposed as a tiny bedroom for the homeowners' grandchildren, who love this cozy space. The original double doors remain.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The book nook is now used as a cozy bedroom for the homeowners' grandchildren. It is quite a magical tiny space.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The bathroom has been designed with luxury in mind. An original doorway has been partially blocked up to form a new sunset-facing window at the foot of the stand-alone bath. An original nook has been retained. Stonework is exposed and pointed with lime. A rainwater head shower is located left of...
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
The original doorway has been partially blocked up to form a sunset-facing window at the foot of the stand-alone bath.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion
Wildflowers in the garden of the refurbished and converted cottage and barn.
Cottage and Outbuilding Conversion