bright & breezy
For Holly and Philip Keeling, relocating to their dream seaside destination meant taking on the revamp of a 19th-century barn that was in need of a fresh approach
This Cornish abode went from dark and drab to light and airy
When Holly and Philip Keeling first viewed a 150-year-old barn in a pretty Cornish coastal village a decade ago, it was a far cry from the airy space it is now. ‘It was dark and drab,’ says Holly, ‘ but the location was great, and we knew we could change the interior.’
The couple and their children, Ben, 20, Louis, 17, and Charlotte, 12, had always enjoyed holidays in Cornwall, and finding this place with sea views proved too good an opportunity to let pass. ‘Most homes we had seen were tiny cottages, but the barn had a large sitting room and kitchen upstairs,’ says Holly. ‘Having bedrooms downstairs makes sense, because we spend most of our time in the sitting area, which has the best views.’
Structurally, the roof and stone walls were in good condition, but the timber windows were rotten, so they were replaced with UPVC ones. ‘I am not usually keen on plastic windows, but we had little choice because wooden frames would need to be repainted every year,’ says Holly.
Windows aside, the property remained relatively untouched until 2012, when the couple added a new balcony leading off the kitchen. ‘The sun sets on this side of the house and we knew that a sheltered balcony would be lovely in the evenings,’ says Holly. ‘I consulted an architect, but the design he came up with would have been costly. I drew a simpler version, and asked a local company to make it in oak with glass and steel balustrades for a fraction of the price.’
Two years ago, the kitchen and bathroom were replaced and softwood floorboards were laid on the first floor. Inexpensive kitchen cabinets were teamed with oak worktops and a bespoke painted island. ‘I dislike wall cupboards, as they can make a room feel smaller, so instead I found vintage shelving and glass-fronted units,’ says Holly.
Previously, the large open-plan kitchen/ sitting room had felt bare and clinical, with painted plasterboard walls, so Holly decided to introduce pale blue timber panelling, which runs along the entire back wall of the space – creating a useful display shelf and concealing pipework and wires. She also fitted radiator covers in the same colour and chose relaxed furniture in soft shades.
Holly’s career as a stylist and interior designer meant she was well placed to furnish the barn, which she did by trawling antiques markets, auctions and online shops. ‘I didn’t want the interior to look too contrived but everything needed to work together, which is where the blue and white colour scheme came in,’ she says. ‘The barn feels light and welcoming now – we’re so lucky to have found such a lovely home.’