Pig shed transformed into country retreat

Organised across a single storey, The Maker's Barn is a single open space, with a bedroom and study on the southeast side, separated from a living, dining, and kitchen area to the northwest by a central concrete fireplace and chimney.

Custom-designed timber cabinetry including a new kitchen, a secret WC, and a bedroom wardrobe separate the different areas.

“Key design features include a prominent central chimney made from board-formed concrete, thick plastered walls, timber columns and a larch timber-clad roof. Our contemporary interpretation pays homage to the local architectural style – drawing inspiration from thatched Tudor cottages that have visually heavy roofs, pronounced chimneys and wattle and daub walls in between a distinct timber structure,” said studio founder Craig Hutchinson.

Along the southern edge of the home, service areas are enclosed by rough plaster walls, while the north side is lined with full-height glazing and sliding doors. Framed by thick timber columns, these open the home onto the landscape. 

In the bedroom, a skylit shower area sits alongside a sunken bath, which looks out across the landscape and back into the living room through a low gap beneath a dividing bookshelf. 

For the kitchen, the parquet wooden floor of the living area gives way to tiles, with the back wall lined in glossy tiles illuminated by a large skylight.

Photographs: Helen Cathcart.