Breathing New Life into a Historic Home
Every historic building tells a story — and this house certainly deserved a new chapter following many years of careless neglect.
When our clients, Matt and Carolyn, approached us about their newly purchased farmhouse in a small Leicestershire village, they wanted to restore its charm while creating a comfortable, contemporary home for modern family life.
The farmhouse is Grade II listed — with origins in the mid-1800s — comprising a blend of late Georgian and Victorian influences. It had once been a working farm, central to the local economy right up until the 1960s. But in more recent years, it had fallen into neglect and had even been used as a student rental.
Our challenge was to bring the building back to life — to create a home that celebrated its agricultural past while offering a warm, modern environment to live, work, and gather.
3 Step Design Process for Historic Buildings
When approaching any historic renovation, we like to simplify the design thinking into three key elements: space, light, and landscape.
1. Space – Respecting the Old, Enhancing the New
The existing farmhouse dictated much of the structure, but our clients’ needs guided the transformation.
They wanted flexible, open-plan living spaces for family gatherings and entertaining, balanced with quieter, more private areas for reading and working from home.
The design sought to respect the character of the old farmhouse while allowing new, contemporary spaces to coexist harmoniously alongside it.
2. Light – Capturing the Day, Framing the Seasons
Light is a free yet powerful design resource. In this project, the new living spaces were oriented southwest to make the most of natural sunlight from midday through to the evening.
Despite being in a built-up setting, we found opportunities to introduce skylights and carefully positioned openings — capturing sunlight as it shifted through the day, animating interiors, and providing warmth even in the colder months.
In summer, the exposed brick and concrete structure acted as natural regulators, absorbing and releasing heat to maintain comfort year-round.
3. Landscape – Connecting to Place
Landscape, for us, is more than a garden view. It’s about understanding materials, context, and history.
We looked closely at what felt right for the setting — both visually and practically. That meant using materials that belonged to the site’s story, ensuring privacy from neighbouring dwellings, and shielding the home from nearby road noise.
This holistic approach allowed the new architecture to sit naturally within its rural surroundings.
Creating the Link: A Contemporary Connection
The design’s pivotal gesture was a linking section — a contemporary addition connecting the farmhouse with the renovated stables.
This new element became both a bridge and a threshold — uniting the historic and the new.
Because this part of the site was shaded for much of the day, we developed a roof form that gently rises to catch light over the neighbouring gable ends. The result is an elegant, light-filled connection that feels at times calm and uplifting.
Material Choices with Meaning
Externally, the new addition is clad in rough-cut black timber — a material choice that’s become popular, but here, it carried genuine relevance.
Historically, a black timber-clad steel barn once stood on the site. By echoing this in the new design, we created continuity between past and present.
Internally, the finishes are deliberately raw and honest. The structure itself appears to float on round steel columns — referencing that same agricultural steel frame construction, while reducing disturbance to the original farmhouse fabric.
It’s a dialogue between ages — between the practical simplicity of a working farm and the crafted sensitivity of a modern family home.
A Rewarding Transformation
Every project involving a historic building carries layers of complexity — but it’s also immensely rewarding.
Thanks to an open-minded approach from our clients and a clear design strategy, what began as a daunting prospect evolved into a project that feels deeply rooted and full of character.
If you’re considering your own renovation, whether it’s a farmhouse conversion, barn transformation, or listed building restoration, we’d love to help you bring new life to it.
Typically yes, especially if the property is listed or in a conservation area. We have expertise handling the planning process and it’s always worth consulting your local planning authority early in the process too.
Absolutely — the key is balance. It’s often the case that a sensitively designed piece of contemporary architecture can enhance the old rather than compete with it.
Every project is unique, but from design through to completion, expect 9–18 months depending on complexity and permissions.