Old Stone Barn Renovation

Not long ago this house was a stone barn. On one side of it there was agricultural machinery and on the other, cows and hay. Dirt floor, no water, no electricity. Owner Lidwine Ruwio took up the challenge and this is what it looks like now.


Hard to believe but this fake chimney was made in a few hours. And on December 24th! The fire you see comes from three containers filled with ethanol.






Reclaimed wood hides a radiator.












Uplala lounging on the kitchen windowsill.



Hope you are having a wonderful weekend, my friends! Come back tomorrow for more!

Photography by Michel Pernin
All images from here.

So Nice to See You Again! And a Guesthouse in France

Hello once again, dear readers! Thanks so much for all your comments while I was away. I promise I will shortly be visiting you! I had a superb, lengthy, awesome holiday at home, Argentina, together with my eight kids. Thanks for asking!

And a very warm welcome to my new followers. Hope to see you around every day!

Back to our home tours, then! Maison-Travaux takes us to visit La Bergerie de Fontbonne, a guesthouse in France built against a hill, at the bottom of a valley. The period of construction is difficult to date as traditional building techniques have remained unchanged through the decades and even centuries. None of these buildings have foundations, but all are based on a double wall buried 25 cm deep. Architect Emmanuelle Stevenoot was in charge of renovating these four ancient barns which cover a floor area of 265 square metres. As the buildings stand on different heights, steps were used to connect one with another.

If you'd like to visit La Bergerie de Fontbonne's website just click here.



































Photography by Antonio Duarte
All images from Maison-Travaux

Renovated Victorian Barn

A mix of French and Gustavian styles throughout this renovated mid-Victorian barn, which was a working farm building until it was converted in the 1980s. Recently, new owners Christina and Nigel Dickinson gave it a complete internal makeover.



















All images from Period Living.

Ina Garten's Barn

I'm sure you've heard of delightful cook Ina Garten also known as the Barefoot Contessa. Today we are going to visit her new -what she calls- barn, constructed behind her main house. She says there was so much going on in the main house with all the cooking, and filming, and writing cookbooks, that she needed another place to go.

Architect Frank Greenwald was in charge of making Belgian country style barn, and Robert Stilin decorated the interiors.

Come with me?


Ina's barn was built on a shady side street of East Hampton, New York.


On the bluestone terrace, Ina prepares to set the table.


In the entry, there is a 19th-century muslin-covered settee and a 17th-century Venetian mirror.


Rough-hewn salvaged beams lend dimension and warmth to kitchen-dining area. Axel Vervoordt cabinet anchors one wall and a huge Vervoordt basket at the end of the 18-foot-long counter holds all Ina's bakeware. Countertop is Peitit Fossil Belgian Stone; lamps are custom. White armchairs from Robert Stilin. Wall color is Farrow & Ball Light Gray.


The dining room.
.

The kitchen and dining room share a fireplace.


Simple asymmetrical mantel display.


Open shelves are stocked with a collection of cake stands and hotel silver.


In the pantry, simple wire Metro shelving holds plates, props, and supplies.


In the bedroom, a 17th-century French oak table holds eggshaped ceramics.


Morning coffee in the cozy comfort of a bedroom armchair covered in gingham


French doors open to the gardens outside from the bedroom


Ina's office space in an alcove outside the bedroom. Photo of Luxembourg Gardens by Jean-Michel Berts. Walls are Farrow & Ball White Tie.


This bubbles-up-to-your-chin bathtub overlooks a walled garden. Wood blinds.


Looking out from the barn you can see the main house in the distance.


A covered porch leads to the entrance. The caramel-colored cedar will age over time to a silvery gray.


A covered porch becomes an outdoor living room in summer; 1920s rattan chairs.


The stone-topped trestle table and sitting wall on the bluestone terrace.

Ina was interviewed about her barn by Frances Schultz. If you'd like to read it just click here. At the end of the interview she names 5 things that make her comfortable:

1. Cashmere blankets and Loro Piana slippers everywhere.

2. Great dance music when I'm cooking.

3. Flower arrangements from the garden.

4. Mariage Frères tea with homemade cookies.

5. Surrounding myself with people who make me happy.

Hope you enjoyed Ina's barn!

All images and information from House Beautiful.