From initial approach to stepping through the front door into the spectacular reception hall, visitors to Church Barn are struck by its creative design and interesting use of materials.
Externally, new bricks have been carefully matched with reclaimed materials to recreate the intricate detailing that would have been present in the ancient barn wall that once stood here. Internally, the property's clever owners have used more brick, together with steel, glass and beautiful woodwork to create a home that manages to be both striking and inviting. Church Barn at Witton, near Brundall, which sits in approximately 0.82 acres of land, is currently on the market with Savills at a guide price of £975,000.
Restored, converted and rebuilt by its current owners, it was presented with a Broadland Enhancement Award in 2010 for its imaginative design and inspired combination of the old and the new.
'It was once a working barn, with cattle in one end and a cart shed at the other,' explains one of the owners. 'It seemed like an interesting project and that it could become a nice place to live: we were also keen to move closer to Norwich at the time and so it was ideal for us.
'Working with an architect but eager to bring in features of their own, the couple had a clear idea of what their new home had to include.
'I wanted a good working kitchen because all four of us love to cook, somewhere that was also a great family space,' she says. 'We also wanted to have other parts of the house where we could gather together or entertain lots of guests if we wished.
'The project came together beautifully and has been an exceptional family home ever since. Original barn entrances have been retained and the building now features swathes of glass, which bring the light streaming in. Windows have also been positioned to capture the beautiful views out across the countryside and towards the pretty 14th century flint church of St Margaret's Witton, with its octagonal tower.
'We do feel as if we are right at the heart of the countryside here – there are some lovely walks in this area. Yet we are close to Brundall, with all its facilities, including its train station, and it takes just 15 minutes to drive into the city. 'We also enjoy good access to the A47 which makes it very easy to travel anywhere.'
Visitors enter the property via the great hall with its magnificent vaulted ceiling, mezzanine bridge and curved brick wall. Mirroring a wall that stood in the original barn, this sweeps round between the hall and drawing room, reaching right up to the library above. Glass balustrades follow the open tread staircase and the curve of the wall; they also line the upper levels, ensuring the full effect of the architectural features as well as maximum light.
Beneath the mezzanine library is the formal drawing room, with its large stove, which exudes such warmth that the owners rarely switch on their underfloor heating. This opens into a spacious dining room, where a bank of windows overlooks the garden.
'This is a fantastic entertaining space,' says the owner. 'We have had lots of family gatherings and parties in the drawing room and dining room, seating up to 25 on occasion.'Beyond this is the outstanding family kitchen, with its range-style cooker, central island, granite work surfaces and pantry. From here there are with doors through into the adjacent snug as well as on to an area of parterre and herb garden, which catches the morning sunshine. Further on round is what the owners describe as the 'working part of the house,' comprising a utility room, cloakroom and office.
There is also a double guest bedroom and en suite shower room at the end, which could be ideal for older relatives.At the other end of the ground floor further sleeping accommodation is located – and this could easily be transformed into a self-contained annexe.
To date, it has been ideal for one of the owners' daughters and currently encompasses two bedrooms, a sitting room and a bathroom. The upper level of Church Barn offers just as much flexibility – new owners could choose to use the rooms and spaces in a variety of different ways.
Across the mezzanine bridge to the left is a large room, with a vaulted ceiling, which has its own bathroom and walk-in wardrobe, and could be a splendid cinema room or bedroom. To the other side is the library, where the pipe from the stove below rises up within the inner curve of the central brick wall.From here double doors open into the attractive master bedroom, which has an en suite bathroom and French windows on to a Juliet balcony, taking in views of the church and countryside.
Throughout the house are many fabulous touches, brought in by the owners to enhance the home or to offer practical solutions. A Sonos sound system brings music into the drawing room, kitchen and snug, there are ingenious storage solutions at every turn within the barn and the property has solar thermals panels and PV. 'There is very little we would change if we did it again,' the owner admits. 'And we will certainly take lots of ideas with us when we move on to our next home. It has been a wonderful place to live – a lovely family home.'
*Church Barn at Witton is on the market with Savills at a guide price of £975,000. For more information call 01603 229229 or visit www.savills.co.uk
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