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Houzz Tour: A Derelict Outbuilding Gets a Stylish Makeover
This former forge, stripped back to reveal beautiful raw materials, has been transformed into a gorgeous retreat
This was once an unused outbuilding attached to the owners’ home; now it’s a cosy and edgily designed bolthole they can rent out to guests. “There are a couple of acres and the only way the owners could afford to buy all this land was if they planned to rent some of it out,” the project’s interior designer, Karen Knox, explains, adding that her client had left her previous career to go into more family-friendly work, including this and another on-site holiday let.
“While the cottage the owners live in was inhabited before they bought it, the attached outbuildings had not been used since the 1970s,” Karen says. Read on to see the marked difference between the before and after photos.
“While the cottage the owners live in was inhabited before they bought it, the attached outbuildings had not been used since the 1970s,” Karen says. Read on to see the marked difference between the before and after photos.
A Corten steel-clad wall, made by a local blacksmith, is a gentle nod to the building’s original use as a forge. Along with contemporary sofas, cheeky artwork, engineered oak flooring and industrial-style accessories, the new design rubs along comfortably with the building’s original old beams and brickwork.
“The owner wanted a holiday cottage that wasn’t too country or chintzy, somewhere people would enjoy the interiors and be inspired by bold design with a bit of edge,” Karen says of the brief. “She was keen to incorporate lots of home comforts, too – such as underfloor heating and a fully functioning kitchen – and also wanted it to be family- and dog-friendly.”
The chimney breast was knocked out; the new, wall-mounted TV is in the same position as the framed artwork in the before photo just seen.
The original, white-painted brick wall was also knocked through to become a hallway to a newly built section at the back of the building. The opening to it can be seen here to the left of the TV.
The bare brick wall remains and a wood-burning stove has been installed where the window used to be. Karen added a full-width Yorkshire stone hearth.
“The owner wanted a holiday cottage that wasn’t too country or chintzy, somewhere people would enjoy the interiors and be inspired by bold design with a bit of edge,” Karen says of the brief. “She was keen to incorporate lots of home comforts, too – such as underfloor heating and a fully functioning kitchen – and also wanted it to be family- and dog-friendly.”
The chimney breast was knocked out; the new, wall-mounted TV is in the same position as the framed artwork in the before photo just seen.
The original, white-painted brick wall was also knocked through to become a hallway to a newly built section at the back of the building. The opening to it can be seen here to the left of the TV.
The bare brick wall remains and a wood-burning stove has been installed where the window used to be. Karen added a full-width Yorkshire stone hearth.
This floorplan shows the building’s large, open-plan living space, which includes a dining area and kitchen. This area is within the original building’s footprint.
Here, you can see how the rest of the layout works.
“The bit where there are two bedrooms was knocked down and rebuilt,” Karen explains. “It wasn’t possible to reuse what was there, because it needed so much reconfiguring and, structurally, wasn’t in the best shape.” The main bathroom had previously been used for pig food storage.
“The bit where there are two bedrooms was knocked down and rebuilt,” Karen explains. “It wasn’t possible to reuse what was there, because it needed so much reconfiguring and, structurally, wasn’t in the best shape.” The main bathroom had previously been used for pig food storage.
“The view from this window is of the little village street,” Karen says. “The brick wall was cleaned up and had to go through a soundproofing test to see if we were allowed to leave it exposed,” Karen explains, as it abuts the neighbour’s outbuildings. Luckily, it passed, allowing it to become a characterful feature.
Sofas, DFS. Painting, Rockett St George. Trio of steel pendant lights, E2 Contract Lighting. Wall lights, Dowsing & Reynolds. Pheasant wallpaper, Woodchip & Magnolia. Table lamp; footstool, both client’s own. Curtains, bespoke.
Sofas, DFS. Painting, Rockett St George. Trio of steel pendant lights, E2 Contract Lighting. Wall lights, Dowsing & Reynolds. Pheasant wallpaper, Woodchip & Magnolia. Table lamp; footstool, both client’s own. Curtains, bespoke.
This before photo shows the same window. Karen painted the frame black to echo the owners’ home next door.
“I think this room had been used as an office space in the 1970s,” Karen says. In this photo, you can see the two key original features that caught her eye: the chunky beams and the already-mentioned bare brick wall.
“With any room, I look for the difficulties and the features and try to incorporate both. We went up a ladder to look into the loft and saw there was lots of potential to [open up and] create a vaulted, feature ceiling.”
“I think this room had been used as an office space in the 1970s,” Karen says. In this photo, you can see the two key original features that caught her eye: the chunky beams and the already-mentioned bare brick wall.
“With any room, I look for the difficulties and the features and try to incorporate both. We went up a ladder to look into the loft and saw there was lots of potential to [open up and] create a vaulted, feature ceiling.”
The beams, which had all been painted what Karen describes as “1970s brown”, were sandblasted and restored.
The false ceiling is visible here, with a corrugated roof above. The building was re-roofed and insulated as part of the renovation.
The false ceiling is visible here, with a corrugated roof above. The building was re-roofed and insulated as part of the renovation.
The kitchen is tucked behind the Corten steel wall, with an adjacent dining area at the edge of the main room.
The black wall behind the dining table is covered with magnetic plaster and painted with blackboard paint. “It makes it family friendly,” Karen says. “We were imagining the dining table might be used for play as well as for eating.”
An aluminium multi-pane door opens onto the courtyard.
Kitchen and dining area wall lights, both Dowsing & Reynolds. Pre-painted black kitchen units, DIY Kitchens.
The black wall behind the dining table is covered with magnetic plaster and painted with blackboard paint. “It makes it family friendly,” Karen says. “We were imagining the dining table might be used for play as well as for eating.”
An aluminium multi-pane door opens onto the courtyard.
Kitchen and dining area wall lights, both Dowsing & Reynolds. Pre-painted black kitchen units, DIY Kitchens.
This before photo shows what is now the dining area, originally separated from the living space by a wall. The area on the other side of the glazing is now the kitchen.
See Karen’s renovation of the owner’s own kitchen, which was stylishly updated on a budget.
See Karen’s renovation of the owner’s own kitchen, which was stylishly updated on a budget.
“The kitchen didn’t need loads of storage, so it was more about creating something that felt in keeping with the period of the building,” Karen says. “We went for a contemporary take on the trad Shaker door.”
The open shelving manages not to be dwarfed by the very high ceiling thanks to Karen’s use of these tall, steel brackets, which she designed herself. They keep it all in scale.
The brick wall is not original, but was made to look similar to the one in the living area. A copper sink and stained oak worktops reflect the colours and materials used elsewhere.
The Knox bracket, Dowsing & Reynolds. Walls painted in Charbone, Paint & Paper Library.
The open shelving manages not to be dwarfed by the very high ceiling thanks to Karen’s use of these tall, steel brackets, which she designed herself. They keep it all in scale.
The brick wall is not original, but was made to look similar to the one in the living area. A copper sink and stained oak worktops reflect the colours and materials used elsewhere.
The Knox bracket, Dowsing & Reynolds. Walls painted in Charbone, Paint & Paper Library.
To the right of the table are some vintage, industrial-style lockers to section off a cloakroom area.
“When we first saw the architect’s plans, the main door to the property opened into this space,” Karen says. “It was glazed, so privacy wasn’t great.” (There’s a pavement directly outside.) Karen used the lockers to create a vestibule area, but also to screen the dining table and kitchen.
“When we first saw the architect’s plans, the main door to the property opened into this space,” Karen says. “It was glazed, so privacy wasn’t great.” (There’s a pavement directly outside.) Karen used the lockers to create a vestibule area, but also to screen the dining table and kitchen.
The lockers are panelled with old pallet boards on the hallway side, seen here, with coat hooks fixed to the wood. On the dining side, the lockers provide storage for games, toys, crockery and so on.
Karen tweaked the architect’s drawings to add two rooflights to the new hallway leading to the bedrooms, which had previously had no natural light. “It allowed us to go super dark with the paint,” she says.
The bottom half of the wall is plastered beneath a dado rail. “It was meant to be panelled, but we ran out of budget,” Karen says.
Framed artworks, Oakwood Vintage. Pheasant wallpaper, Woodchip & Magnolia.
The bottom half of the wall is plastered beneath a dado rail. “It was meant to be panelled, but we ran out of budget,” Karen says.
Framed artworks, Oakwood Vintage. Pheasant wallpaper, Woodchip & Magnolia.
This is the family bedroom. Two single beds have been connected to make a king-size one, but they can easily be separated. The chair in the foreground can be turned into a bed for a child.
Karen designed storage behind a sliding, barn-style door that includes a library on one side and a wardrobe on the other.
Mouse light (on bookshelf), Seletti. Chimney Swallows wallpaper in Sepia, Designers Guild. Wall lights, Dowsing & Reynolds.
Karen designed storage behind a sliding, barn-style door that includes a library on one side and a wardrobe on the other.
Mouse light (on bookshelf), Seletti. Chimney Swallows wallpaper in Sepia, Designers Guild. Wall lights, Dowsing & Reynolds.
The view facing the other way reveals a courtyard garden; both bedrooms have direct access.
The back wall is painted in a dark grey. “As the doors open onto the courtyard, it was important that the outside connected to and referenced the inside,” Karen says. “It blurs the line between the two.”
Dressing table, owner’s own. Walls painted in Hornblende, Paint & Paper Library.
The back wall is painted in a dark grey. “As the doors open onto the courtyard, it was important that the outside connected to and referenced the inside,” Karen says. “It blurs the line between the two.”
Dressing table, owner’s own. Walls painted in Hornblende, Paint & Paper Library.
Karen kept the main bathroom as simple and classic as possible. The monochrome scheme features tongue-and-groove panelling and distressed floor tiles in a herringbone pattern. “I wanted to design something timeless, so it won’t need to be changed,” she says.
There’s a skylight but no window and the room is fairly small, so Karen added a large mirror to visually expand the space.
Demelza Tin Talc Decor ceramic wall tiles, Mandarin Stone. Dartrey burnt wood-effect porcelain floor tiles, Topps Tiles.
Tell us…
Which details do you particularly like in this rural renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
There’s a skylight but no window and the room is fairly small, so Karen added a large mirror to visually expand the space.
Demelza Tin Talc Decor ceramic wall tiles, Mandarin Stone. Dartrey burnt wood-effect porcelain floor tiles, Topps Tiles.
Tell us…
Which details do you particularly like in this rural renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? This part of the property is a holiday let, owned by a family with two teenage children who live in the adjoining Victorian house
Location Sand Hutton, North Yorkshire
Property A one-storey former forge
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Karen Knox of Making Spaces
Photos by Polly Baldwin of Dynamic Pictures
The one-storey building, originally a forge, is connected by a door to the owners’ home, a two-storey Victorian cottage. It’s the larger of two outbuildings they’ve converted into holiday lets.
This image is the before picture of what is now the main, open-plan living, cooking and dining space (see below).