Ideal Home (Bulgarian) | New Use for Old Barn

A young English family and their two little children have made a wonderful home for themselves in an old farm house. They bought two stone buildings over 0.6 acres of land, which the architects Mattinson Associates converted to suit a modern way of life.One of the buildings has become the family home, geared up with all the modern comforts - making it homely and unique.The other barn is an annex, with space for offices and a workshop. The planning is flexible so the space can be used to suit a variety of purposes. The entire property is spread over 250m2, and between the two barns there are: five bedrooms, two living rooms, three bathrooms, two kitchens and two utility rooms.The conversion of the property has been aimed at achieving high living standards, both barns now have under floor heating and hard wood door and window frames, with double glazing installed throughout.The architect's idea was to create a simple open plan space in the main barn, emphasising the essence of the original building and space. This has been achieved by highlighting the original features of the building, keeping the stone walls and original beams exposed - contrasting the old with the new. The aesthetic of the old and natural materials has also been strengthened through the use of earthy and neutral colours.The ground level has been lowered in the main barn, meaning that the bedrooms on the first floor feel more spacious. This has also meant that an amazing space could be created in the double height living area, which is open up to the gable ceiling.The main materials in the house are stone and wood, which are also used for the flooring. The solid pine floor used in harmony with the neutral travertine, and the carpets with their natural wool colours, bring even more warmth into the space.The open plan living room is on the ground level with panoramic views over the landscape. In this main space there is an area to sit and rest, with sofas and armchairs, a dining area and a u-shaped kitchen, with an island which is used as a breakfast bar.A wooden staircase connects the two floors, it has a glass banister emphasising the open feel of the property, and creating a visual connection between the two floors. The stairs end in a gallery, overlooking the living area through a glass banister, with a cosy corner with soft relaxing furniture.Both bedrooms on the first floor have an amazing view of the outside, and are large enough to have seating areas, with space to sit and read. The rooms on the ground floor all have folding and sliding doors, allowing the option to eliminate the separation between inside and outside.The house is furnished in a modern eclectic style, boldly mixing the old and the new. In doing this the owners have created the feeling that there was life here a long time ago, and that the occupants have passed through different times and fashions. There are many original African artefacts, and the African theme is continued through the art work, produced by Leslie Johnson.The two barns are only a few metres away from each other and are surrounded by gardens. To the south of the main house there is a large terrace on which a marvellous view is opened up. There is another stone laid terrace onto the main garden, accessed from the living room and ground floor bedroom. A stone wall surrounds most of this garden, which is kept simple to emphasise the connection with the surrounding and unlimited landscape.