outside influence

An old barn is now a stunning home thanks to inspired design – and its Yorkshire setting

Susan and Dan Edwards turned a rundown barn into a light and bright home with an interior inspired by the great outdoors

Not many people can say that they spent six years looking across a field at their forever home, but that is what happened to Susan and Dan Edwards. They were living in a new-build cottage in a pretty North Yorkshire village but, with two young daughters, Anna, now 14, and Poppy, 12, they realised they needed a larger house. ‘Every day, I looked over the field at this property,’ says Susan. ‘ When we started looking for a new home, it had already been on the market for 18 months. It needed some work doing to it, but that appealed to us because after our newly built cottage we wanted something with more character.’

The house had personality in spades. Originally a cowshed, tractor shed and stable, it had been converted by a previous owner. ‘When we viewed it, we realised every room needed work, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the place,’ says Susan. ‘I loved the fact that the walls weren’t straight and it had old beams and, because there was so much glass, it was a very light house. It had a wonderful feel, and I knew we could make it something special.’

However, once Susan and Dan had bought the property, second thoughts set in. ‘We did wonder what we had taken on,’ says Susan. ‘Nothing had been done to the outbuildings. We also realised that we had no view onto the garden and we knew we would have to open up the kitchen.’

Undaunted, the family moved in in 2013. ‘We embarked on a minor renovation with the help of local builder Tim Wilkinson, but soon realised that we would need to make more major changes to create a home that suited us as a family,’ says Susan. ‘Tim was still with us 10 months later, having renovated the whole property.’

‘We tackled the main house first and made it liveable,’ explains Susan. Downstairs,

1 sitting area Floor-to-ceiling windows offer great views of the garden. timber-framed extension, price on request, yorkshire oak Frames. For similar floor tiles, try rustic copper riven slate, from £16.35sq m, nustone. F360 Advance woodburner, price on request, Jøtul. laura Ashley’s Alberton leather armchair, from £1,300, is a good alternative

4& 5 hall Wallpaper with an insect design adds a playful touch. Bumble Bee BP584 wallpaper, £89 a roll, Farrow & Ball. similar stag’s head coat hooks, £32.99 each, Wayfair

2& 3 kitchen etched frosted glass signposts the pantry. Cabinetry, price on request, the Main Company. Painted in Mid lead Colour flat oil eggshell, £62 for 2.5l, little Greene