HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Returning to the farm where she grew up gave one woman and her family the chance to create a spacious and light-filled home on the footprint of a historic barn
How best to honour the heritage of a building is always a challenge when repurposing it for a different use. But this Suffolk barn conversion by the Jarrold family has achieved a beautiful balance between what was there before and what is now their family home. ‘I used to mentally walk through the house every night as I was falling asleep, trying to envisage how the layout would work,’ says homeowner Onitha Jarrold. She and husband Dan developed the site and outbuildings, which were originally in the grounds beside her old family house, to create this striking modern build. Their sons Noah and twins Isaac and Finn, as well as Sunny the cockapoo, have all been along for the journey too.
‘I spent a lot of time creating moodboards and drawing sketches,’ says Onitha who runs furniture refurbishment brand, Rekindled Home. Beautiful interiors and sustainability are close to her heart. ‘I wanted to create a personalised interior for us but, as we have quite an eclectic mix of items, it took some time to plan how it would all fit into the space.’
From the start, the couple wanted to incorporate as much eco-conscious design into the build as possible, as well as make the house feel homely with salvaged and vintage floors and furniture. Floors throughout the ground level are 300-yearold reclaimed oak from a chateau in France.
‘There is very little here that has been bought as new. The floors give warmth both physically and aesthetically, which makes it feel cosy despite the building’s size,’ says Onitha. ‘Being built from mostly modern materials, the house could have felt a bit austere, but by surrounding ourselves with meaningful pieces of furniture that have a story, and putting in a little extra effort and love, we’ve given it character and honesty.’ In
‘Putting in a little extra effort and love have helped to give it character’
the kitchen, traditional Shaker-style units have been made from ash by a local cabinetmaker, while the island is a vintage architect’s plan chest topped with a worktop. It has six large shallow drawers – ideal for storing cutlery, spices and baking trays.
Another recycled item is the mid-century haberdashery unit that sits between the dining table and seating area in the kitchen, and was a 40th birthday present from Dan to Onitha. ‘It’s made from oak and glass and came from a local antiques market. I love the history behind it and can imagine the stories it could tell,’ says Onitha.
In the light-drenched, double-height atrium in the reception room is the wow-factor feature of this home – magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows that allow uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside from both downstairs and upstairs. ‘The installation process was nail-biting,’ says Onitha. ‘They were transported on a flatbed lorry and lifted into place using a suction crane. It was worth it though, as we couldn’t be happier with the result. The view is like a constantly changing piece of art. We often find ourselves gazing out, watching the sunset rather than the television. It really connects us to the landscape.’
The stair tower that leads to the top floor of the house stands in place of the original barn’s threshing porch. Outside, it is clad in oak and painted black, which is a reference to the ancient barn that once stood here. The rest of the structure’s cedar cladding was chosen because it starts off reddish-orange in colour and then silvers over time, helping the building blend into its environment. The tower has an unobtrusive front door and 30 small letterbox windows – the intention being that it should look subtle from the outside, but from
‘One of the things I have learned is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to achieve a high-quality result’
the inside, create ever-changing miniature views of the surrounding countryside.
Upstairs, paler oak flooring gives the house a Scandi, shoes-off feel, while textures such as sheepskin, linen and soft upholstery in the bedrooms keep the cosy factor high. Continuing the old-made-new theme into the family bathroom, the rolltop slipper bath was bought from a local auction and repainted in a soft pink. Onitha similarly upcycled the bathroom cabinet by adding retro-style brass-coloured legs and handles and painting it a striking dark green.
The leftover marble tiles from the floor were used as a splashback either side of the basin.
‘One of the main things I have discovered throughout this project is that you don’t need to spend an absolute fortune to achieve a highquality result. You just have to remain extremely careful with your product selection and management,’ explains Onitha.
However, the finished project does not come without its own story of grief. ‘Having very sadly lost both of my parents recently, the location holds even more significance for me, and many special memories of happy times,’ says Onitha. And there will undoubtedly be many more joyful times ahead for the family in this beautiful house.