A double-height barn on a farm dating back to the 1200s and once the site of a moated manor house, The Barn at Park Hall Farm has been transformed into a striking two storey family home. The farmhouse itself dates to the late 1800s, with the barn's exposed beams salvaged from a sailing ship and retained as a striking architectural feature throughout.
Working alongside a structural engineer, DL Design Studio led on the interior design of the barn conversion with Johnson Tiles supplying the tiles for the bathroom and utility spaces. The client had a strong personal vision for the property centred around a stripped back minimalist scheme but with a real injection of personality. Blending the two contrasting styles, while retaining the building's original character, Emma Lacey at DL Design Studio created a standout design by layering colour and bold patterns against a calm backdrop.
Taking inspiration from a tropical wall design, Emma worked with the Johnson Tiles’ team on the bathroom to create a true retreat - in the home. Anchored by the striking centrepiece featuring large scale tropical plants and greenery, DL Design Studio turned to Johnson Tiles to find materials that would ground the room and offer a muted paletteto preserve the room's restful spa-like quality.
Our Contempo Bone tiles, across three formats - 1200x600mm, 600x600mm and 600x300mm - were specified bringing additional texture and a warm, neutral backdrop that complements the nature-inspired wall without competing with it. In the en-suite upstairs, Prismatics Sunflower tiles were used to bring a fresh burst of colour to the space. The Contempo Bone tiles were carried through into the utility floor - a darker space with a lower ceiling that has been converted from part of an adjoining barn. Here the files were used to lift and brighten the room with their warm hue and light-reflective quality.
The bathroom was a key space for us to get right, and the tiles played a very important part in creating the relaxing, sanctuary feel that the client was looking for. The Contempo Bone tiles created the perfect backdrop and by using them across both the walls and the floor they enveloped the whole room bringing balance and warmth. The perfect place to unwind," said Emma Lacey, Specifier at DL Design Studio. The family has a deep connection with the site which has belonged to them since 1964. Eighteen months in the making, they are delighted with the transformation from dilapidated barn to a family home.
Project credits:
Director: Dan Lacey - DL Design Studio
Architectural Technologist: Jason Smith
Contractors: Frank Goulding
Photographer: Andrew Eelley - The Image Factory
