My Barn Conversion … musings in small-house, off-grid, architecture, design with smatterings of art, history and literature

(or … will you employ an architect?) We have some strong opinions about how we wanted the conversion to be. We’re keen on a natural finish, wanting to avoid the dark stained timber, olde worlde kitchens & stairs and gravel often to be found in and around a stereo-typical barn conversion. Our aim is to…

Having claimed that the ball was rolling back on the 28th June 2006 only to spend six months to-ing & fro-ing, waiting for utility companies and solicitors to get their acts together, the ball really has started rolling. We completed the purchase of the barn on Friday the 26th January 2007 – now here we…

There are all sorts in interesting(?) facts that you learn when you begin to dabble in an area with which you’ve had little previous experience (such as converting a shed to a house is to me). One of these is the percentage of slates that you can save dependant on the type of nails they’re…

I’ve always fancied the idea of engaging an architect (if I’m honest, inspired by Kevin Mc of TV fame), so I went to speak to one today. My route in was the RIBA website (Google RIBA), which offers a referral service. Of the three on my list I managed to speak to two (one of…

Having embarked on this crazy journey I thought we should try to firm up on exactly what it will cost. Easier said than done – my list of builders, kindly compiled by my father, has proven to be a series of unanswered calls and conversations with wives and children. bbbrriinngg,bbbrriinngg…bbbrriinngg,bbbrriinngg {echoes in my ears}

Start the ball rolling Visit estate agents and search the internet for properties in your chosen area. Find something that you like in your own time. I hate the stress of needing to find a property. Let it happen, it will.

Money! Get financing agreed in principle, this will allow your to set you budget.

First answer the following questions: 1. Do you really want to do this? 2. Where do you want to do this? 3. Can you afford to do this? Okay?… Then proceed…

The ball starts rolling….