SUFFOLK BARN

Caroline Hardy and Russell Mccleave took this barn from abandoned farm building to cosy, country home

How one couple took a forgotten old farm building and turned it into a liveable, cosy, country home

Although this building has been well used by several generations of Suffolk farmers, Caroline Hardy and Russell Mccleave are the first people actually to live in it. ‘It’s odd to think that before us, the most recent inhabitants were cattle and tractors,’ says Russell. When the couple bought the property near Bury St Edmunds, it was in a raw, unmodernised state. ‘It was a shell of a building really, with soil on the ground and hessian sackcloth tacked over the doorways,’ says Caroline. But this was exactly what they wanted: ‘It was our opportunity to create a home from scratch,’ says Russell.

The structure is full of beautiful fragments of the barn’s working past. ‘The brick and flint walls are typical of the Suffolk vernacular and we love the character of the beams and posts,’ says Caroline. A series of old farm hooks that are designed to hang off a beam have also been cleaned up and put back in place.

Converting this ramshackle building into a warm home was always going to take a lot of hard work, but the huge bonus was that it came with planning consent in place. This was a stark contrast to the restrictions that came with the couple’s previous home, a Grade Ii-listed manor house. ‘It was an atmospheric maze of rooms >

and staircases, but once our children Finn and Lily had left home, we were ready for a new style of house,’ says Caroline. The couple picked a much simpler layout for their new one-storey property – everything is centred around a large living room, which flows into the kitchen-diner, with four bedrooms off to the sides.

Textures are a key part of the home’s personality, with restored flint walls, oak lintels and sections of tactile plaster. Some portions of the walls above head height are clad in old pine planks, indicating that a hayloft may have existed at one stage. These were sanded down and the few replacements needed were given an aged patina. Russell did most of the building, plumbing and electric work himself, aided by a good friend. The work was then signed off by professionals. Underfoot, they laid Indian limestone flagstones, sourced from ebay. ‘Russell is a bit of an ebay addict,’ says Caroline. ‘We also found our Aga, the kitchen units and a wood-burning stove on there.’

Caroline and Russell’s furniture is an elegant mix of contemporary design classics – such as the set of Louis Ghost chairs by Kartell and the Arco lamp by Flos – and interesting antiques that they have picked up locally. The couple has always enjoyed visiting Suffolk’s small >

auction houses and the large grandfather clock that presides over the comfortable seating area was an auction find. ‘Buying vintage and second-hand items is a really economical way to furnish a home with interesting pieces and it also cuts down on waste,’ says Caroline. Favourite antiques include their Windsor chairs, an Indian coffee table and the French carved bed. ‘Somehow they all fit with the character of the property, perhaps because were all built by hand, as was the barn,’ says Russell. They also lend the home an air of timelessness.

In theory, Caroline and Russell now have a moratorium on buying anything more for their barn home, but you get the impression that neither of them is taking it particularly seriously. ‘Sometimes you see a painting or a piece of furniture that’s just irresistible and you have to have it,’ says Russell.

For the finishing touch to make their home feel extra welcoming, Caroline and Russell always have a scented candle burning from their own brand, Illumens. With evocative names like Horse’s Neck, Reading Room and Gentleman’s Shed, their fragrances are clearly rooted in a gentle pace of life. ‘As the light starts to fade, we light a candle and wait for the smell to drift through the house – it makes it feel like home,’ says Caroline.

❝ WE DIDN’T WANT ANY OF THE FURNITURE TO BE FADDY, OR TO DATE TOO EASILY. BUYING VINTAGE AND SECOND-HAND ITEMS IS A REALLY ECONOMICAL WAY TO FURNISH A HOME WITH PIECES❞ INTERESTING

Living room By leaving the old brick and flint bare, the couple have ensured the barn’s characterful history shines through. For a similar sofa, try Sofa.com. Arco floor lamp, Flos at Heal’s

Hallway The vintage front door set-up makes it seem like Caroline and Russell have lived here for years

Living room Unusual art in rich and vibrant shades stops the bare walls from feeling cold. Artwork, John Hoyland

Living room A simple sliding door separates the living and dining rooms, creating an easy flow around the home. Similar vintage side table, Vinterior

Kitchen-diner Such high ceilings and pale rafters mean this space can easily handle dark kitchen cabinetry. Ghost chairs, Kartell at The Conran Shop. Edinburgh dining table, Neptune, is a similar style

Hallway Caroline’s used plenty of soft textiles to offset all of the dark wood furniture. Similar cushions, Redbubble

Kitchen A new kitchen doesn’t have to cost a fortune – Russell found this Bulthaup one on ebay

Main bedroom and en suite A tub behind glass doors is more practical than in the room itself, yet still luxurious. Similar bath, Victorian Plumbing

Main bedroom An inky blue paint shade makes a bold backdrop and works with the warm timber tones. Wall in Night’s Blue Arch, Valspar. For a similar antique bed, try La Maison London