• KENT BARN

It seemed like a risky decision but Victoria and Drew Crabtree just knew they could turn an old farm building into an incredible family home

A building that once stored grain silos is now a beautiful family home thanks to its confident, creative owners

❝ THE BUILDING LOOKS QUITE INDUSTRIAL SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ADDING CHARACTER AND WARMTH WITH VINTAGE PIECES❞

Victoria Crabtree says friends thought she and her husband Drew were crazy to buy this farm building because its blocky, redbrick exterior didn’t match everyone’s dream of the traditional rustic barn. But they were undeterred. ‘It was built in the 1950s as a new version of the Kentish oast house, so was still very much a hardworking, authentic farm building,’ says Victoria. In fact, when they first saw their soon-to-be home, it was still full of metal grain silos.

Now finished, the property’s hub is a generous kitchen-diner that flows into a seating area. There is a smaller TV snug across the central hall, while a mezzanine and two floors of bedrooms can be accessed via the central stairs or a reclaimed iron spiral staircase that rises from the kitchen. Well-worn materials were key to putting the character into this home, from wooden cladding to reconditioned sliding barn doors and vintage furniture.

The barn already had planning permission but the couple used a local architect, Open Arc, to draw up new plans that make the most of the natural light. They love how the architects positioned windows and internal openings to take advantage of where the sun rises and sets. Upstairs, one wall of the main bedroom is glazed, while an internal window makes a play/seating area feel connected with the kitchen below.

‘Once the structure was in place, Drew took over to add plenty of finishing touches,’ says Victoria. He built the entire kitchen from reclaimed timbers and poured the concrete flooring that runs through the ground floor.

Then it was over to Victoria for the interior design side. Victoria is now a floral designer but trained in interior design and worked on high-end apartments and hotels in London before moving to Kent. ‘That slick style could not be further from the rustic look that we wanted here,’ she explains.

She and Drew also went for some quirky touches, including a set of red bar stools salvaged from a 1950s-style diner. There are curtains made from cotton sarongs that Victoria bought from beach sellers in Tarifa, southern Spain. ‘We bought one or two off each salesman until we had enough to join together,’ she says.

With open-plan spaces on the ground floor acting as a hub and bedrooms upstairs leading off a gallery, there’s an easy flow to this home. ‘It’s a big house, but we never feel far from each other,’ says Victoria. However, large spaces can be tricky to make cosy, so she turned to Claire Gamble-dale, aka Mrs G-D Interiors, who sources and paints vintage furniture. ‘She found a fantastic long dining table that also acts as a subtle room divider and a sofa with just the right amount of period style,’ says Victoria.

Victoria is looking forward to getting back to her floral designs, as well as renting out the house as wedding accommodation a few times a year. ‘Now all the hard work has been done, this is a place where people can relax.’

Visit hopbinesbarn.co.uk. Victoria’s floral designs are at theflowerstall.co.uk

WE BUILT THE KITCHEN OURSELVES FROM RECLAIMED TIMBERS, AND SOURCED THE BAR STOOLS FROM A 1950S-STYLE DINER❞

Mezzanine

A bar was added during lockdown for at-home entertainment and to expand the mezzanine area. Artwork, Gabriel Knollys. Loveseat, Loaf

Main bedroom

A simple four-poster is draped in soft, romantic cotton. Fabric, Lombok. Grasses wallpaper, Harlequin. Wall light, similar at Wo & Wé

En suite

Drew clad the shower cubicle in sheets of copper for a Soho House vibe, while dark chocolate walls and verdigris tiles make a luxurious combination. Walnut paint, Neptune. Floor tiles, Naos. Bath, similar at Albion Bath Company

Exterior

The barn, once full of grain silos, has been redesigned for modern family life.

Living room ‘I bought the Cotswold stone fireplace on ebay. The builders wanted to cut it down in size, but I’m glad I stuck to my guns,’ says Victoria. Sofas, Mrs G-D Interiors. Cushions and throw, The Silver Sheep

Kitchen-diner A vintage French dining table acts as an informal divider in this large multipurpose space. Table, Mrs G-D Interiors. Similar stool, Scumble Goosie

Exterior The barn, once full of grain silos, has been redesigned for modern family life. Dining area This cosy area is beneath the beams of the mezzanine, with farmhouse chairs and curtains made from sarongs. Pendants, similar at Industville TV snug This pale timber-clad room is cosy for family film nights. Armchair, similar at Barker & Stonehouse Hallway An original barn door hung on modern sliding hardware leads into the living room and kitchen-diner. Landing A sun-flooded seating and play area overlooks the front garden.

Kitchen-diner A Victorian spiral staircase leads up to a mezzanine with home bar for in-house entertainment. Wall lights, Industville

Kitchen The large space is defined by the island, clad in salvaged boards and with chequerboard tiles around it. Stools, Authentic Reclamation. Wall lights, Industville

Guest bedroom Bare brickwork and more recent breeze blocks contrast with traditional furniture. Bed, Mrs D-G Interiors. Table lamp, The Silver Sheep