Rooms

FLEXIBLE SPACES
Dating back in part to the 1700s, Eleanor’s Barn was originally two separate stone barns. One of these was once the village granary, whilst the other was where the combine harvesters were kept. The Grade II-listed property was converted just over 20 years ago, with a creative design that made the most of its original features and magnificent timbers. “Rooms can have all sorts of uses and they connect in different ways to enhance that flexibility,” she explains. “We have three staircases and up to seven bedrooms, depending on how we choose to use the rooms. You can have sections of the property where people can be independent if they chose and great spaces for entertaining and hosting events, if that is what you enjoy doing.”

WHERE THE HEART IS
A key feature of Eleanor’s Barn is its grand dining room, with flagstone floor, beamed and vaulted ceiling and glazed former barn entrances. This is a truly wonderful space all year round for family gatherings, Christmas dinners and other occasions. The heart of the house however is the kitchen/family room with a central island, slate floor, oak-beamed ceiling and exquisite country cream units, “This is my favourite room,” she admits. “It is south facing, with windows and door onto the leafy, private courtyard. We have an Aga in here, which means it is always lovely and warm – it is a room that people are drawn to.”

EASY LIVING
Also downstairs, is the main drawing room, with its expansive, inglenook fireplace that houses a wood-burning stove. “This is wonderful in the winter – it makes this large room so cosy and warm and simply adds to the character of the space.” Other ground-floor rooms could have a variety of uses, from study and snug spaces to children’s playrooms, hobby areas and bedrooms. “I also love the fact that we have separate laundry and boot rooms, meaning we can keep muddy dogs and boots to one room and clean washing to another,” she adds. “We have also turned part of the garage into a gym. This is a very practical house, with lots of flexible space, as well as being so beautiful.”

GREAT VERSATILITY
With Eleanor’s Barn essentially being two adjoining barns, it would be very easy to create a self-contained annexe, the owner observes. “We call one of the barns ‘the boys’ barn’ as this is the section our children mostly use. It could easily become an annexe, with its own front door, if that is what new owners wanted.” She continues: “Then we have a beautiful guest bedroom, with an en suite bathroom and its own sitting room – it is more than just a guest suite, it is really a guest wing and is where visitors can enjoy their own space. We also have a wonderful master suite, which is lovely and light, and so peaceful.” And, she adds: “There is so much space here that we each also have our own dressing room.”

SUPERB LOCATION
The Newton Blossomville location of the barn has also been a great success. “This is an amazing community, a lovely village with so much going on if you want to join in,” says the owner. “There are school buses into Bedford, there is a lovely walk across the fields and river to Olney as well as many other beautiful places to walk. And cycle – my husband even goes wild swimming in the river nearby. We are well placed for trains into London from Milton Keynes and Bedford and are also well situated for anyone wishing to work in Cambridge.” She adds: “This has been such a wonderful place to live. It is such a unique home, because the barn has so much character and flexibility, it really can become whatever the next owner wants it to be.”

SETTING THE SCENE
Eleanor’s Barn sits in mature grounds, with an orchard, with eating and cooking apple trees, as well as pears and plums. “Every year we fill a chest freezer with fruit,” says the owner. There is the sizeable, sunny courtyard for outside dining and a grassy area for children to play out on. “Even in the winter, we often sit out in the courtyard to eat,” she says. “It is so sheltered, and we enjoy the easy indoor-outdoor living here. In fact, there are lots of places to sit around the gardens. We have our gin and tonic corner in the orchard, which captures the evening sun, and the pergola to provide shade when it is very hot.” The abundance of off-road parking, with the driveway and garage, is also ideal for anyone who enjoys entertaining or has adult children.

Disclaimer
Chewton Rose Estate Agents is the seller's agent for this property. Your conveyancer is legally responsible for ensuring any purchase agreement fully protects your position. We make detailed enquiries of the seller to ensure the information provided is as accurate as possible. Please inform us if you become aware of any information being inaccurate.