Run of the mill-house

When two London architects decided to make a home in rural Wales, they transformed a centuries-old mill-house into a bolthole for three generations. By Chloe Grimshaw. Photographs by Luke White

How two architects perfected a Welsh bolthole

With three generations living under one roof, this small mill-house in a quiet Welsh valley needed an overhaul to suit all of its residents, aged two to 72. Fortunately, Katy Woollacott and Patrick gilmartin are architects with a long histor y of sympathetic renovations, so when they decided to make a retreat here for themselves, their three children and Woollacott’s parents, they were already well verse dint heart transforming period properties for family life.

the house dates back to the 16th or 17th century – though little remains of the original building – and the couple wanted to reflect its history when they remodelled it in 2008.

‘We studied old photographs of Welsh rural homes and were immedi- ately st r uck by how few possessions people had,’ says Woollacott. ‘that simplicity and calmness is something that people are t r ying to reconnect with. although, like most families, we have lots of stuff, we didn’t want it all out on display. it made us reconsider what we really needed.’

to hide the ephemera of daily life, Woollacott and gilmartin built out the

‘Although, like most families, we have lots of stuff, we didn’t want it all out on display’

house’s studwork to form plenty of concealed storage, a generous pantry and a new bathroom. They also increased it s footpr int by adding ex tensions at each end to replicate the look of a Welsh longhouse. To ensure that the exterior would be in keeping with the riverside set t ing, t he build ing mater ia ls used were authentic and local.

‘We used stone from the riverbed,’ explains Gilmartin. ‘The rounded edges necessitate fat mortar joints and create an uneven, slightly untidy appearance that we love. The new parts of the house feel like they belong in this valley.’

On the ground floor, huge doors and windows open out on to swat hes of green beyond. The kitchen faces Crug Hy wel (or Table Mountain) a nd has sunset v iews, while t he liv ing room looks down t he ga rden towa rds t he river, which can be heard rushing past. A new wooden staircase winds around t he ch i mney a nd lead s up to t hree bedrooms on the first floor, and then to

a snug loft room with four single beds.

Woollacot t was keen to echo t he vivid greens of the countryside in the textiles and soft furnishings inside the house, a nd her collect ion of v int age Welsh blankets also helps create a cosy, country-cottage feel that is miles away from the couple’s lives in London.

The interior finishes were kept deliberately rough, with unpainted sawnoak floors, beams and shutters. On the upper f loors, t hey chose to keep t he small ex ist ing windows, rat her t han replace them with larger ones as they have done on the ground floor.

‘I was absolutely fascinated by the small windows because, unexpectedly, they still capitalise on the views,’ says Gilmartin. ‘When you peer out at the landscape it’s like a little framed painting. They make you stop and focus on the moment.’

Previous page Patrick Gilmartin looks out towards Table Mountain. In the courtyard below him is a table he designed, made using a single piece of bleached oak from a local builders’ yard, with a galvanised-zinc base. Right The mud room has a...