DERBYSHIRE CONVERSION
After travelling the world, Holly and Al Hartley returned to their Derbyshire roots and converted a farmhouse and outbuildings into their family home
Plenty of teamwork and a sense of family roots brought this 400year-old farmhouse back to life
When something is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly,‘ says awardwinning education consultant Holly Hartley. ‘I’ve worked in some of the most deprived schools in the UK and abroad and I know the only way to turn a difficult situation around is to create a team of passionate people and inspire them to overcome any challenges they might face.’ Similarly, four years ago, Holly knew she’d need a talented team of renovation experts when she and husband Al took on this 400-year-old farmhouse – the décor was a little tired and the way the outbuildings were being used needed a huge rethink. Working with an expert team was an education in design and project planning.
Despite being a tad more remote than they’d originally planned, the couple were certain it was the property for them. Sitting on the edge of the Peak District National Park, with views over the rolling hills and valleys, and surrounded by 14 acres of land, it would be the ideal place for the pair and their two daughters, Isabella and Margot, to create a futureproofed home with lots of flexibility. ‘This village is in my bones,’ says Holly, whose ancestors have lived in the community for more than 600 years.
‘Al and I have travelled around a fair bit individually, as a couple, and as a family (we were renting in Staffordshire previously), but when we found out that >
❝I TRAVEL A FAIR BIT FOR WORK, SO THE IDEA OF COMING HOME TO A PLACE THAT FEELS A MILLION MILES FROM ANYTHING, YET IS COMFORTABLE AND ELEGANT, IS SO APPEALING❞
this farmhouse was for sale, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to put down some roots. Our idea was to create a home that provides a sense of peace and tranquillity, but with additional living space to have friends and family stay over in comfort, to rent out to holidaymakers to bring in extra income, and for the girls to live in when they are older.’
With former Royal Navy engineer Al taking the lead as head plumber and project manager, the couple put together a fantastic team of local craftspeople to realise their vision – architects and designers; carpenters, joiners and electricians; carpet fitters and landscapers – all used previously or found through reliable recommendations. ‘Good teamwork was vital,’ says Al, who grew up in a neighbouring village just five miles from the farm, ‘with the driving forces here being our interior architect Vanessa Rudd (fourwalls-id.co.uk) and interior designer Joanne Ibbotson (joibbotson.co.uk). They both worked with me incredibly closely from the very beginning to ensure every detail was thought of, and everything ran to schedule – making sure everyone stuck to their deadline so that we could get the next trade in on time was the hardest part.’
‘The fact I know Jo from school helped enormously, though,’ adds Holly, who was reunited with her friend when they moved back to the area around the same time. ‘She was able to translate my idea of creating >
❝I WANTED TO CREATE SPACES THAT REFLECT THE LUXURY❞ COUNTRYSIDE YET HAVE TOUCHES OF
spaces that reflect the countryside yet have touches of luxury. I still have to travel a fair bit for work, so the idea of coming home to a place that feels a million miles from anything yet is comfortable and elegant was so appealing – especially when we had the idea of installing hot tubs to fully unwind while taking in the fabulous views!’
Choosing the colours, fabrics and standout pieces for this nature-inspired scheme may have been a dream job for Jo, but the renovation work was more of a challenge, particularly for Vanessa, who had sloping floors and ceilings and four-foot walls to contend with. ‘The fact that the outbuildings had already been converted by the previous owners didn’t really help, as the space had to be completely reconfigured to create a more flexible arrangement that could work with the main house, or as one or two independent cottages,‘ Al recalls. ‘I think the only things that were kept were the main structure and the original beams and lintels.’
‘What everyone has achieved here is absolutely astonishing,’ agrees Holly. ‘We’ve still got a fair bit of work left to do in the main part of the house, but after tackling a few private rooms as well as this section of the farm we feel far more confident, especially now we have established such a fantastic team. It’s so lovely to be able to utilise local skills and it has really helped us to settle back into the community we both know so well.’ To book a stay at Overlea Farm, visit overleafarm.com