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Houzz Tour: A Full Redesign Brings a Converted Barn Up to Date
Precious period features are complemented by calm colours, cool design and contemporary pieces in this Cotswolds barn
As you might expect from a former agricultural building, this converted barn in Gloucestershire is brimming with original features, including honey-toned Cotswold stone and hefty beams. When its owners bought it, they wanted to update the interiors, which featured a lot of dark wood, without destroying the character. So they asked Kirsty Jephcott and Megane Leeding from Ivywell Interiors to redesign the entire property. “The owners wanted to lighten it up and modernise it, while still respecting its heritage,” Kirsty says.
Now, a palette of neutral tones delivers a fresh backdrop and softens the appearance of those gnarly old beams, while stylish furniture and lighting brings this barn into the 21st century. Most dramatic of all, though, is the addition of a modern glass staircase, which has boldly transformed the living room from dark and gloomy into bright and beautiful.
Now, a palette of neutral tones delivers a fresh backdrop and softens the appearance of those gnarly old beams, while stylish furniture and lighting brings this barn into the 21st century. Most dramatic of all, though, is the addition of a modern glass staircase, which has boldly transformed the living room from dark and gloomy into bright and beautiful.
Kirsty and Megane started on the design in September 2021. “The layout stayed as was, but with a few tweaks, such as making the en suites a bit bigger to enhance their functionality,” Kirsty says. “However, [the house] needed a complete redesign.”
Work then began in November and completed in June 2022. “It all went smoothly,” Kirsty says, “which is a lot down to the builders being lovely. They were very can-do and solutions-focused.”
Find and hire a reviewed interior designer through Houzz.
Work then began in November and completed in June 2022. “It all went smoothly,” Kirsty says, “which is a lot down to the builders being lovely. They were very can-do and solutions-focused.”
Find and hire a reviewed interior designer through Houzz.
The barn was converted into a home about 20 years ago and, while the layout worked, the owners felt the décor was a bit dated and heavy. “It looked very traditional, with a lot of dark wood,” Kirsty says. “We designed a new mezzanine, with a glass and steel balustrade. It opened up the whole area.”
The stairs are glass, too. “We did toy with the idea of making the mezzanine floor glass as well,” she says. “In the end, painting the ceiling underneath lightened the space, so it didn’t feel necessary.”
The stairs are glass, too. “We did toy with the idea of making the mezzanine floor glass as well,” she says. “In the end, painting the ceiling underneath lightened the space, so it didn’t feel necessary.”
Selecting a neutral scheme helped this space to feel open and contemporary. “The pale shades complement the sand colour of the Cotswold stone, which used to get a bit lost before,” Megane says.
This is the largest room in the barn and was designed for when family and friends get together. “When it’s just the two owners at home, they use the snug off the kitchen,” Kirsty says.
There’s a projector hidden in the ceiling – which drops down to create a home cinema – a small seating area near the window and a piano on the mezzanine. “It’s a multifunctional space and we zoned it to reflect that,” Kirsty says.
The sofa was made bespoke.
This is the largest room in the barn and was designed for when family and friends get together. “When it’s just the two owners at home, they use the snug off the kitchen,” Kirsty says.
There’s a projector hidden in the ceiling – which drops down to create a home cinema – a small seating area near the window and a piano on the mezzanine. “It’s a multifunctional space and we zoned it to reflect that,” Kirsty says.
The sofa was made bespoke.
The kitchen wasn’t working for the new owners, who wanted improved functionality and a more contemporary look. The adjoining utility room, seen through the internal windows, was also redesigned to include a dog shower and storage facilities.
“The owners didn’t want to spend a lot on the kitchen, so we sourced cabinets that were really good value, but look fresh and clean in a soft dove grey,” Kirsty says. The kitchen is fitted with integrated appliances and a good balance of storage and open display.
Internal glazing divides the utility room from the kitchen, just seen to the left.
Kitchen cabinets, Howdens. Splashback tiles, Mandarin Stone. Pendant lights, Där Lighting.
Internal glazing divides the utility room from the kitchen, just seen to the left.
Kitchen cabinets, Howdens. Splashback tiles, Mandarin Stone. Pendant lights, Där Lighting.
A relaxed dining area and snug open off the kitchen. “This is really the heart of the house,” Kirsty says. “The owners spend most of their time here.”
Megane and Kirsty sourced all the furniture. “The people who bought the owners’ London flat also bought all their furniture,” Kirsty says, “so we were starting from scratch here and didn’t have to fit in existing pieces.”
Megane and Kirsty sourced all the furniture. “The people who bought the owners’ London flat also bought all their furniture,” Kirsty says, “so we were starting from scratch here and didn’t have to fit in existing pieces.”
“We kept the original timber beam as a beautiful feature, but updated the flooring so that both the kitchen and dining spaces flow together,” Kirsty says. This shot shows the near end of the kitchen pre-renovation.
This is the same area seen after the redesign; the island marks the transition from kitchen to snug and dining area. The greeny-blue pendant lights help to zone the space and are a nod to the wall colour beyond. “The kitchen island naturally nests within this opening,” Kirsty says.
Pendant lights, Där Lighting.
Pendant lights, Där Lighting.
In the informal dining area, a round, whitewashed oak table faces the huge window that provides lovely views of the landscaped garden.
There is also a separate, formal dining room, which Kirsty and Megane designed around the table and artwork. “The owner had the table made, and wanted its Art Deco feel echoed in the rest of the space,” Megane says.
The designers sourced a sideboard and shelving to suit, and then had the chairs made. Some of the beams and the wall behind the art are painted a soft grey to lighten the space. “We had originally planned a dark colour on that wall, but together with the red art it was too intense,” Megane says.
Hayes chandelier, West Elm.
The designers sourced a sideboard and shelving to suit, and then had the chairs made. Some of the beams and the wall behind the art are painted a soft grey to lighten the space. “We had originally planned a dark colour on that wall, but together with the red art it was too intense,” Megane says.
Hayes chandelier, West Elm.
Blues and greens crop up throughout the house, reflecting the owners’ love of colour and passion for gardening. “It was nice to introduce some blue in the main bedroom as a feature wall,” Megane says. “Rather than a flat colour, we picked a wallpaper that’s slightly textured and mottled.”
Wallpaper, Caselio. Lights, West Elm.
Wallpaper, Caselio. Lights, West Elm.
At the far end of the room there’s a peaceful reading corner with a view of the garden.
More: 18 Bedrooms With Cosy Reading Corners
More: 18 Bedrooms With Cosy Reading Corners
The owners wanted a luxurious, wetroom feel in their en suite bathroom, achieved with two different styles of tile and brushed gold brassware.
“The shower can get a bit lost in a room like this, so we went for beautiful big tiles here,” Megane says. “They’re quite shiny, so you might not want them across all the walls, but it’s nice to have that reflective finish here as everything else is more matt.”
All tiles, Mandarin Stone.
“The shower can get a bit lost in a room like this, so we went for beautiful big tiles here,” Megane says. “They’re quite shiny, so you might not want them across all the walls, but it’s nice to have that reflective finish here as everything else is more matt.”
All tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Aside from the mezzanine, the barn has no upper levels and all the bedrooms are on the ground floor. This is a guest room before its transformation.
Kirsty and Megane redesigned the room to suit visiting children and adults alike. “It’s younger and more fun than other rooms,” Kirsty says. “We used bolder colours. The decorators kept calling and saying, ‘Are you sure? Are you really sure?’ and we were like, ‘Yes! Keep the faith!’ By the end, they said it was their favourite room.”
The communal spaces in the house feature mostly neutral tones. “But we thought, this is quite a small space, let’s have fun with colour in here,” Megane says. “You notice the edges of the room a lot less with dark shades, so it works well here.”
An almost terracotta on the walls is anchored by a strong blue on the skirting boards and doors. Both beds were made to order to suit the space, teamed with oversized lamps and a large mirror to make it look bigger.
Walls painted in Ashes Of Roses; woodwork painted in Juniper Ash, both Little Greene. Lamps, Där Lighting. Cushions, Casamance. Blind fabric, Camengo.
The communal spaces in the house feature mostly neutral tones. “But we thought, this is quite a small space, let’s have fun with colour in here,” Megane says. “You notice the edges of the room a lot less with dark shades, so it works well here.”
An almost terracotta on the walls is anchored by a strong blue on the skirting boards and doors. Both beds were made to order to suit the space, teamed with oversized lamps and a large mirror to make it look bigger.
Walls painted in Ashes Of Roses; woodwork painted in Juniper Ash, both Little Greene. Lamps, Där Lighting. Cushions, Casamance. Blind fabric, Camengo.
The en suite to the twin guest bedroom features a graphic, black-and-white scheme. “Again, we deliberately went for something funky for this bathroom,” Kirsty says. “We chose monochrome, though, as there’s a lot of colour in the bedroom and we didn’t want to add more in here.”
Tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Tell us…
What do you like most about this barn conversion? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Tell us…
What do you like most about this barn conversion? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple with grown-up children
Location Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Property A converted barn
Size Three bedrooms and three bathrooms
Project year Late 2021 to mid-2022
Interior designers Megane Leeding and Kirsty Jephcott of Ivywell Interiors
Photos by William Goddard Photography
“The owners were relocating from London,” Kirsty says. “They loved the garden and wanted a rural life, so a converted barn was perfect.”
For much of the project, they were overseas or in London and not on site, but good communication and the latest technology meant this wasn’t a problem. “We use Houzz Pro and have for more than two years,” Megane says. “We use the 3D Floor Plan the most, which is great to quickly put together initial room concepts, and the walk-through feature [where homeowners can get a real feel of the proposed scheme] allows us to capture specific details we want to draw attention to.”