An urban farmhouse with a barn door

What was the brief for your home?
The brief was simple. We favoured an urban farmhouse style, and every bedroom had to have its own bathroom. Instead of a ‘one size fits all’ utility room, we wanted a boot room, a pantry, and an upstairs laundry room.  

Why did you choose zinc for the cladding and roof?
We wanted to keep the number of materials to a minimum as we did not want the finished result to look too fussy. The utilitarian look of the cladding is the perfect finish for the urban farmhouse we desired.

What was your vision for the entrance to your home?
We wanted it to feel spacious and light: somewhere the whole family can get their shoes on at once! The door was the icing on the cake. It perfectly encapsulates the urban farmhouse brief. Rustic and reclaimed on the outside and, by contrast, super slick on the inside, almost mirroring the contrast of the warm brick and the zinc cladding. 

Why did you choose an Urban Front door with Luna handle?
I had originally chosen one of the other handles the company offers but, as the door went into production, Elizabeth, Urban Front co-founder, made me aware of a new handle, the Luna, that had just been designed and created. Once I saw it, I knew it was the one for us. I love it! 

 Did you face any challenges during either the planning or building phases?
Our planning process was quite simple, largely, I think, because we organised a pre-planning meeting with our local council to ensure we were on the right path. The main challenge for the build was the weather. We had allowed 12 months for the work but a year of particularly wet weather meant it took 13 months.

What was your vision for the inside of your home?
It was important that the house looked and felt homely from the beginning as it can be rather a struggle with a new or renovated property to navigate the lack of soul. Hopefully, I have achieved this. That said, the children chose the look and aesthetic for their own rooms, and I helped put it together for them. I think they did an amazing job.

What are your favourite parts of your home?
The front door is one of my very favourite elements, but also, perhaps a little weirdly, I love the downstairs toilet too. The pantry is great, but my absolute haven is the principal suite. 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about your home?
We’re very proud of the result: the look, the feel, the finishes, and our guests always feel at home. It is the family home of our dreams. I can’t quite believe we are moving so quickly but another project with potential has come along.