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Ffion and James Baker renovated a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall over two years, adapting it for family life while restoring original features. The work included insulation, a new heating system, layout changes and an alternative roost for bats found in the roof.
Ffion and James Baker have completed a two-year renovation of their Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, updating it for family life while retaining features such as its beams, staircase and archways. The work also addressed the challenges of heating and drying the granite building and accommodating protected bats discovered in its roof, according to Ffion’s account in Ideal Home.
The Bakers bought the property despite not actively looking to move. Ffion said its combination of a farmhouse, land, stables and outbuildings was a rare opportunity. The house had previously been run as an equestrian centre, and she described its interior as dated, with bright red and dark green walls. The couple planned to create a family home and convert barns for holiday accommodation.
The renovation included improvements to insulation and heating, as the couple found it difficult to keep the granite house warm and dry. Ffion said they dug a trench through the fields to install a new gas pipe. They also changed the internal layout, removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room to form an open-plan family space, and updated the kitchen and bathrooms.
Other work included restoring beams, sanding and repainting the staircase, repairing a daughter’s bedroom and fitting new windows. The family also added hallway storage and wall panelling, using soft, historic paint shades. Ffion said the project took two years, while describing that schedule as quick given the amount of work completed.
Historic Fabric Meets Family Needs
The project shows how the owners adapted a listed home for day-to-day family use without treating its age as a reason to leave the layout and services unchanged. Opening up the kitchen and dining area created a shared living space, while insulation and a new heating system addressed practical issues associated with the granite building.
The account also highlights that work on an older property can involve environmental and conservation concerns alongside design choices. After discovering bats in the roof, the Bakers said they followed conservation advice and created an alternative roosting space in their barns. Their experience may be useful to readers considering renovations, though the report does not provide a budget or technical guidance for comparable projects.
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From Equestrian Centre to Home
Before the renovation, the property included land, stables and run-down outbuildings and had been used as an equestrian centre. Ffion said the interior decor was largely unchanged since the 1980s. The couple intended both to make the main house work for their family and to develop barns as holiday accommodation.
James is a property developer who specialises in Grade II-listed buildings, Ffion said. That experience informed their decision to take on a specialist renovation. The report presents the project through the family’s account and photographs of the finished rooms; it does not give a full planning or conservation history.
“A house like this one is such a rare find we knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
— Ffion Baker, as quoted by Ideal Home
Costs and Permissions Not Detailed
The source account does not state the renovation’s total cost, provide a detailed schedule of work or identify which alterations required formal approvals. It also does not explain the specific conservation advice received about the bats or give details of the alternative roost beyond saying it was built in the barns.
The report says the couple planned to develop the barns into holiday accommodation, but does not confirm whether that work is complete or whether the holiday let is operating. Ffion’s account describes the project and its results; independent assessments of the building work are not included.
Orchard and Chickens Planned
Ffion said the family’s next plans are to grow an orchard and raise chickens, reflecting the farmhouse’s agricultural heritage. She also said she runs her holistic therapy business, The Healing Barn, from one of the converted outbuildings. The report does not give a timeline for the orchard or poultry plans, or further details about the planned holiday accommodation.
Key Questions
Where is the renovated farmhouse?
It is a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, according to the Ideal Home report.
Who carried out the renovation?
The owners, Ffion and James Baker, renovated the property. Ffion is a holistic therapist, and she said James specialises in developing Grade II-listed buildings.
How long did the work take?
Ffion said the renovation took two years. She described that as quick given the scale of the work.
What changed inside the house?
The couple opened up the kitchen and dining area, updated the kitchen and bathrooms, improved insulation and heating, and restored features including beams, the staircase and archways.
What happened after bats were found in the roof?
Ffion said the couple followed conservation advice and built an alternative roosting space in the barns so the bats could relocate safely. The report gives no further technical details.
Source: rss
