01494 778787
01494 778787
Homeowner Nicola Johnson discusses the transition of her three barns originally used to store apples into a large contemporary family home with an oversized barn door by Urban Front. Read on to find out more about the project.
Project details
Door: Urban Front Barn door external side and Milano V in RAL 5008 on the inside (1490mm wide x 2390mm high)
Frame: Painted RAL 7016 on both sides
Handles: Black option 11 handles x2
Security: Fingerprint entry and motorised locking system
Wooden flooring: Ted Todd
Windows: Bifold Express
Why did you decide to undertake a barn conversion?
Our new home is made of three barns, which we already owned, located on our farm in Kent, England. The barns were originally cold stores used for apples until the fruit was packed for the supermarket. We were thinking about repurposing them when the farmer who rents our orchards decided to start using a much larger storage option and no longer needed the barns. And so our project began with the aim of creating a building that flowed and was filled with light and space for myself, my husband and our grown-up children aged 22 and 24 years.
Why did you choose an Urban Front door?
I wanted a massive door because I wanted everything to be in proportion. Throughout the barn, we tried to blend the traditional with the contemporary. For example, the bricks look aged, but they are new – we spent months looking for the right ones. I felt the reclaimed wood of the barn door would look amazing within the contemporary glazing. I was worried it would be heavy, but it swings so easily and looks fantastic – I love it.
What challenges did you face?
As it turned out, we couldn’t have chosen a worse time to start a conversion project. It was the beginning of lockdown and it was very difficult to get hold of materials. Our builder was amazing as were all the people who worked on the property.
Is your new home energy efficient?
The property uses air source heat pumps and we are looking to add solar panels. We couldn’t do this straightaway because planning said we had to use the original footprint of the barn and the roof wasn’t steep enough, but this is something we’re keen to do.
What’s the favourite part of your home?
My bedroom and living room are both upstairs and have balconies with far-reaching views across the orchard. There’s a barn owl living nearby, and you can see him at dusk.
