Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country season 3 continues looking at her home's development, as well as providing ideas to homeowners with her elaborate plans
We finally received an update on Sarah Beeny’s house in the countryside as the broadcaster and presenter is back on screens with a brand-new series offering advice to ambitious homeowners.
The new season continues on from where they left off, following Sarah's life in Somerset with her husband Graham and their four sons after they decided to create a self build Victorian-style home.
The first episode started on Channel 4 on Monday, April 17 at 8pm and continues weekly for seven episodes as the family continue their renovation work on their traditional country house.
Where had New Life in the Country left off
Nearly three years after Sarah and her family began filming for New Life in the Country, she and her family return with a new series.
Previously we saw Sarah and husband Graham Swift start their project for a carbon-neutral stately home in Somerset, while on another area of the land they renovated a run-down former dairy farm.
This presented a number of challenges. Firstly, there was the cost. The couple’s original plans would have set them back £2m, so they had to dramatically scale back the design of their new home, with a new budget of £500,000.
Then Sarah’s travails obtaining planning permission for her countryside home, and the consequent set-backs this caused, meant the earliest they could start building foundations was in mid-winter 2020 — when the ground was water-logged.
Once they finally began construction, they did so using an on-site building method called Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF).
Now finally we get to see what further would has been done, and what more she has planned for the property.
Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country starts with a custom made library
In the first episode, Sarah and her family embark on a new project to create a traditional country house library.
Drawing inspiration from an 18th-century stately home that Sarah had previously worked on, they plan to cover the library with custom-made bookcases made from sustainable timber.
As a special touch, Graham installs a hidden drinks cabinet, adding a secret feature to the library.
Guest bedroom renovation
In episode 2 Sarah and Graham shift their focus to the guest bedroom, where they envision an enchanting room inspired by Narnia.
Their plan involves creating a hidden space in the eaves, accessible through the bedroom wardrobe. To find the ideal pair of matching bedside tables, they visit a local auction house in Wincanton.
In addition to the guest bedroom, Sarah has a vision for a tranquil sanctuary in her garden. Seeking inspiration, she takes Laurie on a trip to Taunton to visit the Willow Cathedral, a remarkable living structure, with the intention of recreating a similar ambience at home.
Family room renovation
Sarah and Graham begin work on the vacant space in the family room in episode 3, contemplating how to make the most of it.
They find inspiration in the Chinese bedroom at Longleat House and the use of plant-based textiles and natural dyes showcased at London Fashion Week.
Sarah realises that she can no longer continue working in various random areas of the house, prompting her to devise a plan to seamlessly integrate her workspace into the living area.
Crafting a clock tower
Sarah and Graham embark on their plan to enhance the exterior of their home by constructing a miniature clock tower with a bell on the roof of the building in episode 4.
However, they encounter a setback when they realize that the clock tower doesn't fit properly onto the timber housing.
Erecting the clock tower on top of their Somerset house's wooden carport is meant to add a touch of charm to their property. Despite Sarah's confidence in her method of hoisting the parts onto the roof, they encounter some issues along the way.
The family also makes valiant attempts to decorate the clock tower with lead initials representing their sons Billy, Charlie, Raffey, and Laurie, as well as a Somerset dragon.
Making a Victorian-style cupboard
In episode 5 Sarah and Graham stumble upon a treasure trove of peculiar antiques and family heirlooms, items that have been passed down through generations.
To make the most of these unique finds in their new home, Sarah proposes a solution: transforming their downstairs cloakroom into a Victorian-style cupboard of curiosities.
Graham reunites with some old taxidermy friends that they have inherited over the years, while Sarah and Laurie channel their creativity into crafting wooden coat hooks. Together, they aim to curate a space that showcases their collection of oddities.
Bridge restoration
The penultimate episode of the series shows Graham and Sarah shift their focus to their garden, determined to bring Graham's view from the kitchen to life.
They embark on a quest to find trees and shrubs that will enhance the backdrop of their lake. Additionally, they work on the restoration of an old bridge spanning a stream near their pond.
Lastly, they dedicate time and effort to completing the wall surrounding their newly constructed terrace, ensuring its integration with the garden landscape.
Greenhouse plans
The final episode of the series shows Sarah and Graham measuring up an area of lawn for a greenhouse which will provide not just a place to grow plants, but also a quiet spot for Sarah to retreat to.
Sarah and Graham take Raffey and Laurie to the International Worm Charming Festival in Blackawton, Devon, while the family band prepare to go on tour, which will conclude with a gig at the CarFest music festival in Laverstoke Park, Hampshire.
This final episode airs on Channel 4 on Monday 29 April at 8pm, while all episodes are available on Channel4.com.
