DEVON BARN
The colours of the Devonshire coastline provided inspiration for Felicity Thomson’s spacious barn conversion
The mesmerising shades of the coastline were the inspiration behind the blue colour scheme
Felicity Thomson, who lives on a farm near Salcombe in Devon, says May is her favourite time of year. ‘Early spring is when our foals are born and it’s also when the countryside starts to come into its own,’ she says. ‘Wildflowers begin to bloom and the long, sandy beaches are at their most beautiful.’
Felicity, her husband Charles and their children, Freya and Freddie, moved to this part of the world 20 years ago from Kent, but already knew the area well. ‘We had a holiday home down here, which meant we’d already built up a good circle of friends,’ she says. It still took a while to find their perfect home, which is a Grade Ii-listed 18th-century farmhouse with several outbuildings.
The couple wanted a completely fresh start from their busy commuting-based lifestyles. Charles gave up working for his family engineering business and instead the couple focused on creating a different way of life on the farm. The Thomsons now breed Dartmoor ponies, which have won prizes at the Horse of the
Year Show and the Royal International Horse Show.
Five years ago, they decided to make another new beginning – converting a large barn on the farm into this warm, welcoming home. The building is on two >
IT’S A REAL LUXURY TO HAVE A LARGE OPEN-PLAN SPACE, BUT YOU NEED TO CREATE MORE INTIMATE POCKETS IT❞ OF SEATING WITHIN
levels and a previous owner, who was in the music business, had used part of the top portion as a recording studio. ‘Robert Plant, the Levellers and Alannah Myles recorded here,’ says Felicity. The lower level, however, had been used for hay storage.
‘We thought the barn was beautiful as soon as we saw it. We wanted to preserve it but also bring it into the 21st century,’ says Felicity. Once they had planning permission, an architect was brought in to help them create a traditional home with contemporary touches.
For the interior, Felicity found inspiration in the countryside and coastal scenery on their doorstep. So the kitchen is painted in a restful blue, while a mossy green paint shade has been used in several bedrooms. As a backdrop for much of their art, furniture and finds, Felicity chose Ammonite, a pale grey paint shade by Farrow & Ball. ‘I’ve discovered that the key to creating cosiness is to avoid stark white walls,’ she says.
In the kitchen, an island divides the working areas from the dining area. ‘In the daytime, this part of the room is flooded with natural sunlight. Then, after dark, the pendants cast it in a pool of warm light, which makes it really cosy.’ The table itself is made in local elm by a Devonshire craftsman, while other furniture >
I’VE DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY TO CREATING A COSY DECOR SCHEME IS TIMBER❞ TO ADD COLOUR AND WARM
is predominantly made in pale mango wood and comes from Scumble Goosie. ‘Whether it’s been made a few miles away or by artisan makers and craftspeople in Rajasthan, timber furniture always has warmth and character,’ says Felicity. To bring a sense of softness to the large spaces, Felicity turned to Susie Watson Designs and chose textiles in pastel shades, many adorned with simple block-print motifs.
The generous windows in the living area overlook the verdant, rolling countryside. ‘We were going to have shutters to make the most of the views, but then I realised it might make the space quite echoey,’ says Felicity. Instead, lined and patterned linen curtains hang at all the windows, adding softness and linking with the cushions that are generously layered over each of the beds, sofas and benches.
Now finished, the barn is available for holiday rentals (it can sleep up to 18) and the business is very much a family affair, with daughter Freya running the bookings when she’s not helping to look after the equine side of the farm. ‘Freya studied estate management and worked abroad for a while, but once you’ve lived in this beautiful part of the world, you find yourself drawn back here. It has cast its spell on all of us,’ says Felicity.
❝ WE WANTED TO PRESERVE THE BARN, BUT CENTURY❞ ALSO BRING IT INTO THE 21ST