Blackberry Barn
Grade II Listed Barn House, Beaconsfield
228.9 sqm / 2464 sqft
Our client wanted a bold and moody vibe for his Grade II listed barn bachelor pad, with bright pops of colour and quirky details. He referenced Annabel’s private members club and Paul Smith as a style guide, but at the same time with a conscious understanding of the heritage of the building as well as focus on good quality and lasting finishes.
Before pictures at the bottom of the page
Our priority was to highlight and elevate the 17th century oak beams - we replaced the tired carpets on the ground floor with wooden floors to match the shade of the beams and opted for a light-and-dark contrasting colour scheme of off-white and dark grey to create a moody backdrop.
The 80’s spindles on the stairs and landing were replaced with clean, clear glass and the old brick fireplace was clad in Carrara marble, eliminating further distractions from the beams and creating a clear distinction between original and new elements.
Our client was not a keen cook but wanted a practical and functional kitchen to replace the very tired units. We opted for a Howdens shaker kitchen in charcoal grey with a feature bronze liquid metal extractor cover for a touch of glamour. The old, worn out floor tiles were replaced with hexagon-shaped terracotta floor tiles.
Our client’s two young girls each received a bedroom makeover as well as a new play room / sleepover room and their own bathroom.
For the eldest girl’s room, we used soft plaster and pink colours and designed fitted, mirrored wardrobes in an oak-tone to match the beams, for a girly-yet-grown-up scheme that can be customised and adapted through the years. Our young client requested neon lighting - the angel wings and halo were custom made by Neon Beach.
The girls’ en-suite is the colourful jewel of the house - the dated bathroom suite (see before pictures at the bottom of the page) was replaced with a bespoke coral pink vanity unit, blue wall panelling and a stunning William Holland copper bath. The colours are repeated in the floral wallpaper and the patterned scallop floor tiles.
In the play room, we tucked the raised bed into a nook and created a bespoke, scalloped headboard to cocoon the space, making it usable both as a sofa for lounging and watching a movie or for friends to sleep over. The dreamy clouds wallpaper is from Cole & Son’s Fornasetti collection.
Photographer: Mary Wadsworth
Styling: Milly Bruce