When the Dalton Estate put four historic and derelict barns on the market in the pretty village of Etton, near Beverley, Richard Stott’s heart skipped a beat. All the barns were in an idyllic setting and came with planning permission for residential use. As an architect, Richard knew that this was an incredibly rare opportunity and hoped his wife, Sharon, would feel the same.

He says: “We hadn’t heard anything back and it was the last day to get sealed bids in and then the post arrived with a letter from the planning department saying “yes” we could have the extension so we managed to submit our offer to the Dalton Estate and it was successful, partly I think because it would’ve been difficult to get a mortgage on the barn and we were cash buyers and in a position to proceed.”

A formal planning application to convert and extend the former agricultural building was submitted and approved and with the stars aligned, the hard graft began.

Such was the parlous state of the bowed walls and the trusses of the barn, they had to dismantle most of it brick-by-brick before putting it back together.

The previously derelict barn has been beautifully converted into a four bedroom home thanks to meticulous planning, a great design and plenty of forward planning by owners Richard and Sharon, who also found the Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Harrogate useful for finding products and good advice. The event runs from November 4 to November 6.

“At one point we had three walls and they weren’t very high,” says Richard.

The construction team rebuilt the barn and there were plenty of bricks left over as the original back wall was three layers thick.

“This outer skin was reduced in depth and internal blockwork and insulation added, which meant there were lots of original bricks to spare.

“We used salvaged ones on the pillars for the big openings in the barn and on the piers either side of the gate. Nothing went to waste,” says Richard, who had the existing trusses repaired while sourcing oak beams from a nearby country estate to create lintels for the bifolding doors from Vulcan Windows in Hull.

Richard and Sharon in the open plan living space

The barn now has an open plan living/kitchen/dining area, a guest bedroom, a bathroom and an ensuite bedroom.

The extension, which is solid blockwork clad with Siberian larch, houses a fabulous main bedroom with ensuite and behind that is an office/fourth bedroom and a utility room.

The couple managed to stay on budget because, says Richard: “Our budget was realistic.”

There was just one hiccup when the workforce had a disagreement with the contractor.

The kitchen looks sensational and the discreet extractor is designed to look like a stylish lamo

“They were self-employed and they were good so I got them back on site and I took over, paying them and project managing, which was a huge workload but worth it,” says Richard.

Determined to get everything right, the conversion took a year to complete and is perfect.

Richard’s top tips for those wishing to follow in his footsteps include being well-prepared and he says: “Before we even started on site, Sharon and I went to kitchen and bathroom showrooms and sourced flooring and tiles, otherwise you make snap decisions that aren’t right and can end up costing more.”

The interiors reflect the couple’s love of art and design and include a kitchen from Kutchenhaus and a contemporary chandelier from Ivor Innes.

The cosy sitting area with wood-burning stove

“I had a bachelor flat and Sharon had a cottage when we got together so we didn’t have to buy too much furniture,” says Richard.

The property was runner-up in the LABC North and East Yorkshire Building Excellence Award for best change of use of an existing building and was shortlisted for Best Conversion in the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards but while the couple thought the barn would be their home for life, they have surprised themselves by putting it on the market.

West View Barn is for sale via Dee, Atkinson Harison for offers over £750,000.

“We thought this was our forever home and we put everything into it but we liked the process of building a house to our standards and we now have an opportunity to do it again, and so we want to give it a go,” says Richard, who adds: “It will be sad to leave, Etton is a lovely village and the renowned Pipe and Glass pub in South Dalton in the next village to us, is our local.

"W hope the next owners will enjoy the barn as much as we have.”

Useful Contacts: Richard Stott, RD Stott Architects, www.rdstott.co.uk. For details of the sale of West View Barn contact Dee Atkinson & Harrison, tel: 01482 866844 or email [email protected]

The main bedroom is extra large with great views

*For those who want to follow in Richard and Sharon’s footsteps, the annual Northern Homebuilding and Renovating Show is at the Harrogate Convention Centre from November 4 to 6.

Richard says: “We went to the show to view windows and research other products and I would definitely recommend it.”

The organisers of show are offering free e-tickets to Yorkshire Post readers. Visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/yorkshire-post.

The show offers advice from experts on subjects ranging from planning, budgets and self-building to energy efficiency and kitchen design, along with an array of new and innovative products.

Story of a brilliant barn conversion and free tickets to the Homebuilding and Renovating show for our readers