A Converted 1880s Coach House - Extra

“The Engine Room got its name 100 years ago when it had housed the generator. But when we moved in it had already been converted into a 2,000ft² two bedroom guest house with a kitchen, two bathrooms, office, lounge and a sauna and gym,” says Kate. “So we were able to live on site to supervise the work on the main house and be comfortable at the same time.”

Despite the Old Coach House’s dramatic conversion, the property had lost a little of its charm and had come to look dated. “It had been done in a ’60s sort of way, removing a lot of the original features and using breeze blocks downstairs,” says Kate. “There were some old features left such as the old stable division where the prize stallion was once kept — it now separates the drawing room from the library. There was also some Victorian pine panelling which had been in the tackroom (which has now become our snug) and we found some nice old pine floorboards – some of which had to be repaired – under the horrible old carpeting in the main reception rooms. We threw out the carpets and had the original floors sanded and polished.”

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Further reading:

• See more H&R Extra content
• Extending a 17th Century Coach House