part Georgian Grade II Listed build- ing decided it was time to downsize, it came as something of a surprise when she realised the solution was right under her nose the whole time – in her own back garden. Having lived in the farmhouse for the last 40 years, Caroline Abbate had realised that she needed to downsie, and find a more suitale home to meet her changing needs. Her large, historic home, Northend House, was originally designed as a small farmhouse in the 17th


W


century. Over the centuries, different sections of the building have been extended, and more recently, a larger, grander Georgian frontage facing the main route through the village was added.


Despite her love for her home, it had become “too big, and unmanageable,” says Caroline, adding: “The house required a lot of upkeep, and needed younger owners with the energy to modernise it.”


When it came to searching for her ‘later living home’, staying in the local area was a top prior- ity. Having been settled in the village for four decades, and with a network of friends nearby, she had no intention of moving to another area.


DESIGN REQUIREMENTS Caroline’s key requirements, when it came to the actual design and layout, were “somewhere small but not too overlooked by neighbours,


30 www.sbhonline.co.uk


hen the owner of a part-17th


century,


characterful but not requiring too much maintenance, and a good-sized garden.” It was also vital that everything was accessible on one level. Aesthetically, she wanted “a place that was warm and filled with natural light But with this fairly demanding brief, and the fact the village didn’t offer much choice of available property, her options were limited. After two years of unsuccessful searching, Caroline’s son-in-law, an architect at London practice Emrys Architects, suggested that she consider something even closer to home. Neighbouring the farmhouse were two old outbuildings. Originally designed as cowsheds, the structures had more recently been used as horse stables and a woodshed. “My son-in-law explained that there may be a possibility of carving a suitable home from the simple outbuildings on site, ” says Caroline. t first aroline was sceptical, wondering whether these old buildings which had sat in her garden for so long could be turned into her next home. Her initial feelings were that it would be “far too small and cramped.” However, after drawing up a couple of designs, the architects convinced Caroline of its potential, and eventually, she got on board. “The solution was right there this whole time, and it was also going to cost considerably less!” says Caroline. If they were going to pursue the idea of converting the existing outbuildings however, Caroline was determined that a new structure


HIGH POINT


“The realisation that the outbuildings that I couldn’t envisage being appealing as a home were actually being trans- formed into something highly desirable.”


mar/apr 2022


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