6 Project Lessons from a Double-Storey Extension to a Barn

After living in their barn conversion for 14 years, Chris and Sarah Dale were faced with a conundrum familiar to many homeowners: should they move to a larger house to keep up with the needs of their young family, or stay in their idyllic Devonshire location and attempt building an extension? 

“When we first moved into the barn it was perfect for two people but once our family grew we knew something would have to change,” begins Chris. “The village has such an amazing sense of community but the house [which once served as a hayloft with an animal holding below] was often dark with little storage and there was no real connection to the garden.” 

Here, the couple explain how they finally obtained planning permission for their extension and their top tips for project success.

Image 1 of 3

1. Find the Right Architect

Over the years the couple had applied for planning permission for extensions they had designed themselves to no avail, before finding Tim Offer, of Tim Offer Architects. 

“We met with a couple of architects and talked through their different ideas but really liked Tim’s approach,” explains Sarah. “We live in the South Hams and they can be quite tricky with planning permission, particularly with old barns, so Tim’s idea was to extend with references to the original agricultural look.”

“Planning was fairly straightforward with Tim because he had the experience of knowing what to ask for,” agreed Chris. “I think they appreciated that we had tried to match the vernacular in a slightly new and interesting way.”

2. Choose Appropriate Materials

The double-storey extension expertly mirrors the existing barn’s form, while red cedar and zinc exteriors provide it with its own contemporary identity. “We were looking at zinc roofs for ages before we met with Tim after seeing other barn conversion extension ideas,” says Sarah. 

“I found we really like the combination of the stone with zinc cladding and warm wood so when we started on the design with Tim we spoke about the materials we wanted. It’s different, but it blends really well with the old barn.” 

4. Rearrange the Layout

While the new addition has been an important change for the property, a much-needed remodelling of the original barn has given Chris, Sarah and their son, Ewan, space to grow. “It really has been like moving into a new house,” says Chris. 

Outsourcing the staircase from the centre of the barn to a new double-height entryway has enlarged the snug and allowed Ewan’s bedroom to absorb the old family bathroom, giving him room for a desk and plenty of storage space to use as he grows up. 

5. Open to the Outside

The extension has also added a master bedroom for Chris and Sarah, complete with internal timber cladding on the vaulted ceiling and apex glazing, not to mention a light-filled dining area on the ground floor with direct access through large bifold doors out onto the garden. 

“We’ve got the glass at the front and the bifold doors at the back leading out onto the patio area — it is really lovely that we can actually see the garden from inside the house,” says Sarah. “I can’t think of anything I would change — it flows and works really well. When you look at the extension it doesn’t look out of place but sits alongside the original really nicely.”

Image 1 of 2

6. Pay Attention to Interior Details

The key to unlocking the old and new spaces was moving the staircase from the existing house into the new extension. Not only does this open up the existing lounge into a much larger space, it also brings the stairs out into a strikingly contemporary ply-lined atrium. 

“The birch ply was Tim’s idea,” explains Sarah. “We didn’t really know what to expect or what it was going to look like before it was finished but he planned it all out and it’s amazing. It’s not what you’d expect from the outside so when people come in it’s such a lovely surprising feature. It’s definitely my favourite part of the house,” she says. 

The exposed stone of the barn and a hardwearing flagstone floor help to tie the modern space into house’s rural roots. “In the countryside it’s easy to bring it all back in with you inside the house, so we really thought about the surfaces and what it would be like to maintain and live with,” says Chris.

“If we had gone with a different architect I don’t think we would have a finish that we loved as much,” agrees Chris. “We’re delighted with the outcome.”