Doubts and frustrations
Derick and Renette say they often doubted whether they were making the best use of the space. “Especially in the wee hours of the night,” adds Renette.
“The barn’s shape is complicated with just four corners and uneven stone walls that are neither perpendicular nor straight, with very little wall space in-between all the windows and doors,” explains Derick, who drew three-dimensional sketches of their ideas, using the FloorPlan Pro computer program so that they could see which furniture would fit where. “With just a single open-plan living area, we had to be careful of creating barriers that would impede the flow between different sections.”
The biggest frustration, which even resulted in a few bruises, was the installation of the insulated ceiling in the open-plan living area. This, along with the construction, cement work and adjustments to the roof, were all left to contractors. Due to the uneven stone walls, a cement strip first had to be plastered all along the roof right around the main room – at a height of 5m above the floor – to create a flat surface for the IsoBoard ceiling.
“Every day, we had to cover and move everything because of the dust and wet cement. In the evening, we had to take off the covers again, move everything back, and clean up before we could settle down for the night. The builders had to remove some of the top stones, chop them smaller and put them back because the cement strip couldn’t be too thick. At night, we often had to stumble along scaffolding planks to get to the bathroom,” says Renette.
Derick’s woodworking skills saved them a lot of money. From the plumbing to the library mezzanine level – and many things in-between – the Oppermans tackled the projects themselves, although they did enlist the help of a local stonework expert,
Collin Kunatsa.
“We had dreamed of downsizing and I must say we use almost every part of this space every day,” says Renette.
“It’s been a long time since both of us have been this proud of something we’ve created, and it’s extra special because we were able to do it together. Slowly transforming an old place like this into something that meets all your expectations without losing its character is more special to me than a newly built house.”
Renette sums up her décor style as follows: “Informal with warm, earthy shades and natural textures. To me, the most beautiful décor is authentic and pared down. There are few things as beautiful as the morning light on the stones.”
She soon learned that a stone wall is art in itself, and that it doesn’t readily accommodate other décor elements. “It can overwhelm a space. Modern finishes and tiles just don’t work. I initially hung up my paintings, but the high walls and texture overwhelmed them. In the end, I sold all my paintings and had large wall panels printed on linen instead.”
A self-confessed Facebook Marketplace junkie, Renette adores pre-loved furniture. With the exception of the living room sofas and patio table, all the furniture pieces are heirlooms or second-hand. >>