A material triumph

Isn’t it a dream arrangement? A lovely open-plan living area with open access to the poolside; perfect summer idyll. The barn has been lovingly renovated, and the owners have opted for stylish and appropriate combinations of materials, mixing rural vernacular with practicality. The poolside bifolds are from Smarts, manufactured in high quality aluminium and coated in anthracite, to blend with the dark timber exterior. It’s really quite surprising what an amazing accompaniment aluminium can be to traditional timber.

The windows are flush sash timber, the exterior rendered in the same RAL colour as the bifolds; you’d be forgiven for assuming they were also aluminium. The upstairs window benefits from a flying mullion (see the pictures) which, when closed looks like any regular window, but when opened in a pair, allows fire escape to satisfy building regulations.

The side French Doors, along with the interior doors, are also in beautiful Bereco timber, perfectly complementing the traditional feather-edge finish of the barn cladding and delicately flanked by floor to ceiling glazing. The cream timber interiors are complimented with traditional monkey-tail window furniture.