A classic barn conversion

Elm Farm Barns is a glorious Grade II listed stone barn conversion which combines period features and craftsmanship with contemporary modern design.

Situated on the edge of a charming rural village close to Lincoln, Elm Farm Barns in Spridlington offers a rare opportunity to enjoy spacious modern living within a traditional setting.

Neighbouring farmhouse Elm House originally dates back to the medieval period, but the property has been extended several times throughout its 600-year history, most recently in the Georgian era.

Elm Farm Barns were established alongside the farmhouse in 1780 and were built from locally sourced stone that is unique to the area.

The current owners, Mandy and Chris Taylor, who live here with their two Cockapoos, have sympathetically restored and renovated these barn buildings after moving into Elm House with their children in 2014.

Once the barn conversions were completed and transformed into this stunning five-bedroom family home in November 2018, the farmhouse was sold and a young family currently lives there.

“Our first impression was that although Elm House was ‘chocolate box beautiful’ externally, it was very dated and in need of internal upgrading,” explains Mandy.

“Later, a structural survey also revealed that the main roof needed to be replaced and we estimated that all the upgrade work would take around nine months to complete.

“However, as a long-term project, we were very excited by the opportunity to convert the derelict barns. We felt that we could make these very special buildings work wonderfully well as a family home.

“Previously, we had spent two years searching for our perfect home – a property that blended character features and a modern interior and one which was located on a manageable south-facing plot – but we couldn’t find a property that ticked these boxes within 15 miles of Lincoln. When Elm House and Barns came up for sale, we jumped at the chance to create our own perfect home.”
Renovations and restoration

The couple lived in Elm House for five years, during which time they attained planning permission and listed building consent to convert the barns.

“This was a lengthy process due to the number of surveys (including bat, newt, archaeological and historical) that had to be completed before work could begin.

“Due to the historical significance of the Grade II listed barns, the conversion work was completed by Mark Donner Ltd, a local building company that specialises in the restoration of historic buildings and it took around 18 months to complete the build.

“The work was completed to a very high standard by a team of local craftsmen and, consequently, the barns were shortlisted for a LABC Building Excellence Award in 2019.

“We completely renovated the barns which were derelict when we bought Elm House. The north-east elevation of the barns had already collapsed due to a fire and this needed to be completely rebuilt.

“We used modern building methods and materials for the shell, which we then clad in the original stone.

The kitchen/living/dining room and garages were also completely rebuilt on the original footprint of the property because this part of the building was deemed to be structurally unsound. The oak beams and stonework were salvaged and reinstated in the new building, while the remaining barns were painstakingly restored by a team of traditional craftsmen.”

Stylish interiors
Now fully refurbished and updated into a stylish family home, the accommodation throughout has been competed to the highest finish.

The ground floor features an entrance hall and a spectacular open plan kitchen/dining/living room with a vaulted ceiling featuring exposed beams and steel truss work. 

The kitchen was designed and fitted by the renowned Krantz Design and includes an impressive 4m x 2m island unit, built-in larder and a comprehensive range of Miele integrated appliances.

Mandy says that the sunny open plan kitchen/dining/living area is one of their favourite rooms in the house.

“We spend most of our family time in here because it’s a light, bright, sociable space with fantastic views across the garden and countryside beyond. It really is a dream room and everyone who visits our home comments on what an amazing space it is.

“All the rooms are spacious, light and airy with a neutral colour palette and a Scandinavian minimalist feel. Original stone walls and oak beams are paired with exposed steel joists to illustrate the narrative of the building’s conversion.”

The impressive living room features a double-height vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and steel truss work, bespoke built-in book shelving with ladder, an Aduro hybrid pellet/wood burning stove and a mezzanine landing above.

“The flow of the property is fantastic. It has a very large utility-boot room/plant room with pedestrian access to the bins and oil tank. This is where our dogs sleep, and we also do our laundry. It’s great being able to keep the ‘messy stuff’ out of sight of the main living accommodation. 

“We also have a fantastic games room with a full-size American pool table which is my husband’s pride and joy. Our spectacular vaulted kitchen/living room is the heart of the home. It has a wall of bifold doors which open onto the south-west facing courtyard patio area, allowing us to bring the outside in on sunny days and providing wonderful views over rolling countryside.

“We also have space for a 12-seater dining table, which enables us to entertain friends and family inside. It’s just a fantastic, sociable space where everyone can come together.

“We also have a fabulous double vaulted lounge which we converted from the old hayloft. We use this room in the evening when we want to relax and watch TV or listen to music. Despite the height of the ceiling, the room has a really cosy feel, and in the winter we love using the log burner.”

The master bedroom suite, which was originally a dovecote, boasts a feature wall, vaulted ceiling and exposed oak beams as well as a walk-in wardrobe and a large ensuite bathroom with double shower and twin sinks. The barns have a further master bedroom and three double bedrooms (two of which are ensuite).

“We took care during the conversion to preserve as much of the barn’s character as possible, while incorporating 21st-century design elements, and have created a fantastic, totally unique, versatile and spacious family home.”

Outdoor space
The property is approached via a quiet country lane, and accessed via wooden gates which lead to plenty of off-road parking and a double garage.

The patio courtyard is accessed via both the open plan kitchen/dining/living room and sun room, with the landscaped garden beyond primarily laid to lawn with mature planted beds.

“The property sits on approximately half an acre of land, which we feel is the perfect size. It has a large walled courtyard patio area for outdoor dining and sunbathing and because the garden has a south-west aspect, we get the sun right through until the evening, when we can enjoy watching the sun set.

“We are also very secluded, so we enjoy using our hot tub in privacy. The garden was designed and planted by the highly regarded local company, Perennial Horticulture.

“Beyond the garden we have lovely views across open countryside, so we benefit from a feeling of space and seclusion without having to maintain acres of land.

“Also sited within the grounds are two outbuildings, with the larger stone one (which has power, water and drainage) having the potential to be converted into a granny annexe/home office and the smaller Victorian building currently used as a garden store.”

Village life
The barns are well situated at the edge of the village, with the benefits of wide open space, countryside views and good access to rural walks.

“The village of Spridlington is small and friendly with a thriving social club held at the village hall. It’s also close to William Farr School which our children attended and only nine miles into Lincoln, plus a couple of miles away from the local amenities of Welton.

“We have loved living here over the past 10 years, but now that our children have flown the nest we recognise that the property is too big for our needs. However, we hope to stay in the area and perhaps spend more time in our Spanish villa.

“We will miss everything about this home, but we believe that it would be best suited to a professional couple with a family who are seeking a tranquil country life in a beautiful village, close to excellent schools and amenities.”

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