{"id":33238,"date":"2024-05-09T10:47:15","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T08:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/11a6c505-1db0-49ed-81b9-3ea7fe97c5d1"},"modified":"2024-05-09T11:36:39","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T09:36:39","slug":"this-west-country-farmhouse-with-a-sleek-barn-sized-kitchen-is-a-masterclass-in-blending-old-and-new","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/this-west-country-farmhouse-with-a-sleek-barn-sized-kitchen-is-a-masterclass-in-blending-old-and-new\/","title":{"rendered":"This West Country farmhouse, with a sleek, barn-sized kitchen, is a masterclass in blending old and new"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inspired by their love of design, Matt and Alice Cobon have put heart and soul into creating a home that strikes the perfect balance between rural and modern living. Feature & styling Marisha Taylor. Photographs James French <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 09 May 2024 at 08:47 AM<\/p>

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When Matt and Alice Cobon first viewed their West Country farmhouse back in 2013, they knew instantly it was the country getaway they\u2019d been looking for. The couple had often holidayed in Dorset, says Matt, explaining that as self-confessed foodies, the area\u2019s vibrant restaurant scene was a big part of its appeal. So when the couple started looking for a renovation<\/a> project, it made sense to focus their search on Dorset.<\/p>

The property that caught their attention was a 19th-century farmhouse with an adjoining barn and a number of dilapidated outhouses, which had been in the same family for over 60 years. Although the buildings were in need of love and attention, the surroundings couldn\u2019t have been more perfect: 16 acres of wild gardens and meadows, a short distance from the Jurassic coast, and in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. It was a project the couple could put their heart and soul into.<\/p>

The farmhouse, as seen from the garden, with its pretty porch and appealing symmetry. – James French –<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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\u2018We both have a passion for interior design and wanted to modernise the property in a way that bridged the gap between contemporary and traditional living,\u2019 says Matt, explaining how they earmarked the large, adjoining barn as the new kitchen<\/a>\/living area, and reconfigured a warren of small upstairs rooms in the house to make better use of the space. Restoring period character to the property was also top of the list.<\/p>
Over the course of six months the farmhouse and barn were sensitively transformed, including the removal of a mezzanine level in the barn, which revealed a beautiful, vaulted ceiling. Full-height doors and windows were installed to fill the space with natural light. \u2018Alice and I both love to cook, so it seemed fitting that the biggest and brightest room was the kitchen,\u2019 says Matt.<\/p>
A simple glazed extension was built to create a seamless link between barn and house, with a hidden pocket door leading into the snug. The rest of the downstairs layout stayed the same, but they worked hard to restore original features such as the inglenooks<\/a> and flagstone flooring that had been painted over or covered up.<\/p>
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$\"Matts$
The open-plan kitchen is a triple-aspect room that works in all seasons. You can open all the doors in the summer to the gardens, and hunker down in the winter with cosy blankets in front of the wood-burning stove. In the middle, a generous kitchen island is the social hub of the room, while also providing additional storage and worktop space. The cabinetry and Carrara marble worktops are all from deVOL, the vintage ladder came from Bridport Antiques, and the Hans Wegner CH24 Wishbone chairs, from Heal\u2019s, are perfect partners for the antique oak table, which can seat 10 comfortably. Similar oak dining tables can be found at Antiques World. – James French –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Matts$
The enormous dresser \u2013 an integral part of the kitchen \u2013 was bought online for pennies, and Matt and Alice painstakingly restored it to house all their crockery and glasses. On top sit the couple\u2019s collection of antique Normandy milk jugs. – James French –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Matts$
Chopping boards make an arresting display above an old butcher\u2019s block. – James French –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Matts$
Vintage signage, haberdashery drawers and a pair of cinema seats reflect the couple\u2019s sense of fun and personality, and give the room a relaxed and eclectic feel. They found the vintage haberdashery drawers on eBay and the medical poster came from Crooked Horn Antiques, while the cinema seats and stop sign came from Somerset Antiques and Interiors. – James French –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Matts$
Panelling has been added to the walls of the snug and painted in a bold blue, Starlit Night 1 from Dulux, with a new cast-iron hearth and surround for the fireplace, transforming the space into a cosy family hangout. The rabbit artwork is from the Affordable Art Fair. – James French –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>