SURPRISE PACKAGE
Michelle Sames took on a renovation full of unforeseen challenges and made it a success
A former hunting lodge in Somerset was a catch, but came with plenty of challenges
Serial renovator Michelle Sames is no stranger to moving house, and when she and her husband Barry started looking for their next venture, she fell back on a tried-and-trusted checklist. ‘I wasn’t after an ambitious project, but I wanted a period property and a manageable garden,’ she says. ‘It had to work for Barry and me on our own, but at the same time, we wanted space for our three grown-up children, plus partners and friends.’
A converted former hunting lodge in the grounds of a large country estate close to Bath caught Michelle’s attention. The property had been built around 1807, and extended twice, first around 1900 and then again, just a couple of years ago. ‘I loved the peaceful setting, the quirky layout and the mix of old and new,’ she says, ‘It looked quaint, with gorgeous Gothic-style windows
and old fireplaces inside, but the kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom were all part of a modern, high-spec extension.’
The interior was in good condition and the sleek kitchen and underfloor heating were highlights. As most rooms were painted white, Michelle foresaw little more than redecoration and the addition of a shower room on the top floor. However, things did not quite go to plan. As soon as they moved in, she and Barry discovered a serious lack of water pressure in the house, ‘It was so poor that running a bath took hours, so adding a shower upstairs was a non-starter,’ she says. ‘The previous owners had lived with it, but we just couldn’t.’
The solution involved extensive groundworks, creating trenches for new water pipes and installing a state-of-the-art pumping system. ‘It proved a massive undertaking,’ says Michelle. ‘The grounds were dug up and we were surrounded by mess for a year, but it had to be done.’
Work on the interior also escalated beyond straightforward painting and decorating. There were original ceiling beams to uncover in the dining room and worn wooden floors that needed replacing. With the house’s three levels linked by steep, winding stairs, disruption in one room had a knock-on effect on others.
‘It was very intrusive,’ says Michelle. ‘Fortunately, the unusual layout meant Barry and I could isolate ourselves to an extent, but with so much upheaval inside and outside, it was hard work living here.’
As each room took shape, Michelle set about introducing her favourite blend of modern country and Scandi style into her new home. Walls and floors stayed neutral,