Emma Kirby Design Limited

Our brief was to reimagine our clients' former family home to create a comfortable and relaxed weekend retreat.

The renovated and extended farmhouse, surrounded by landscaped gardens, orchard and paddocks, remains the heart of this traditional Cotswold farmstead. Further accommodation is provided in the shape of two converted stone barns, clustered around the former farmyard.

A steel framed Dutch barn has been converted to add shared leisure facilities, including a large party space at first floor level with an expanse of glazed doors opening onto a raised pool terrace with infinity pool and far reaching views over the beautiful Cotswold countryside. Downstairs features a small home cinema, gym, spa facilities and changing for the pool and invisible all-weather tennis court, tucked away in the gardens.

This project was recently inspected on behalf of the Federation of Master Builders by the inspection company RISA.

We were delighted to be asked to redesign, renovate, build and decorate this breath taking barn at the foot of the Malvern Hills for our clients. 

Working closely with the heritage planners we were able to achieve what we set out to. By removing metres of contemporary stainless steel walkways and staircases that blocked views and felt cold we revealed the extraordinary architectural features of the barn. New windows, antique flooring, large fireplaces to our design, traditionally made bespoke joinery, furniture and lighting all added together to make a warm and welcoming home that feels like it has evolved over time.

We designed an area which incorporated a new oak framed summer barn, a swimming pool and a renovated party barn. We reconfigured the internal layout of the existing barn to create a new kitchen, wine cellar and large double height room. This houses a bar, dining and seating areas on the ground floor and a guest bedroom with a shower room and home office above.

For the warmer months, we designed and built a beautiful barn using traditional methods of oak framing for the structure. The plant room, shower and changing rooms sit at one end of the barn with an open summer kitchen, bespoke bar with zinc worktop and a 5 metre dining table takes up the middle section. A cosy, underfloor heated television room means younger children can relax when the sun goes down after a full day's swimming. Reclaimed clay tiles and wooden cladding help to give an aged feel to the barn and metal framed doors matching those of the party barn unify both buildings.