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Ffion and James Baker renovated a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, completing the work over two years. Their changes included improving insulation and heating, opening up the kitchen and dining area, and adapting a barn to provide an alternative roost for protected bats.
Ffion and James Baker have spent two years renovating a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, updating it for family life while restoring features such as its beams, staircase and archways. The project also addressed the granite building’s insulation and heating needs and, after bats were found in the roof, included an alternative roost in the barns, according to an Ideal Home report.
The Bakers bought the house despite not initially planning to move. Ffion told Ideal Home that they saw the property as a rare opportunity. James, a property developer who specialises in Grade II-listed buildings, had experience relevant to the renovation. The house had previously been used as an equestrian centre, with land, stables and outbuildings that the couple described as run-down.
Inside, the decor had not been updated since the 1980s, according to Ffion. The couple aimed to turn the property into a family home and develop the barns as a holiday let. They tackled the challenges of keeping a granite house warm and dry by focusing on insulation and installing a new heating system. Ffion said they dug a trench through fields to bring in a new gas pipe.
The interior work included removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an open-plan family area, as well as updating the kitchen and bathrooms and restoring beams. The couple also added wall panelling and used soft, historic-inspired paint shades. In one daughter’s bedroom, they stripped back damaged plaster to brick, installed new windows and divided the space to add an en suite, Ffion said.
Balancing Family Comfort and Heritage
The renovation illustrates the practical demands of adapting a listed historic home for contemporary family use. Improvements to insulation, heating and room layout address everyday needs, while retaining or restoring architectural details keeps the house’s historic character visible.
The discovery of bats also shaped the work. Ffion said the family followed conservation advice and created an alternative roosting space in the barns so the protected animals could relocate safely. The example shows how work on older buildings can involve wildlife considerations alongside design and construction decisions.
The project has also changed how the property is used: one converted outbuilding houses Ffion’s holistic therapy business, while the couple’s original plan included turning barns into holiday accommodation. The report does not provide details on the rental operation or its status.
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From Equestrian Centre to Home
Before the Bakers’ renovation, the property had operated as an equestrian centre, with associated land, stables and outbuildings. The couple found a building with substantial repair and updating needs, but Ffion said its character persuaded them to take it on.
The house is Grade II listed, a designation that makes the historic building’s preservation relevant to renovation decisions. James’s experience with listed properties informed the project, although the report does not describe specific permissions or approvals. According to Ffion, the work took two years from start to finish.
Room-by-room changes combined repairs with new fittings. The family restored the hall’s original archway and staircase, added bespoke storage and panelling, and replaced a badly deteriorated bathroom window. In the kitchen, Ffion chose hand-painted grey units and marble worktops; James installed brick slips behind the range, which were painted with a durable finish.
“We weren’t looking to move when it came up for sale, but a house like this one is such a rare find we knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
— Ffion Baker, speaking to Ideal Home
Approvals and Barn Plans Unreported
The Ideal Home report does not detail the planning or listed-building consent process, the renovation budget, or the precise specifications of the insulation and heating system. It also does not independently assess the completed work; details about the project and its results are attributed mainly to Ffion Baker.
The couple’s plan to develop the barns as a holiday let is described as an aim, but the report does not confirm whether that accommodation is operating. It gives no further information about the bat roost, including how relocation was assessed or whether bats have since moved. The orchard and chickens mentioned by Baker are future plans, not completed additions.
Orchard and Chickens Planned
Baker told Ideal Home that the family hopes to grow an orchard and raise chickens, drawing on the farmhouse’s rural heritage. The report does not give a timetable for either plan. It also does not set out when or whether the proposed barn holiday let will open, so those plans remain the next developments described rather than confirmed completed work.
Key Questions
Where is the renovated farmhouse?
The Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse is in rural Cornwall, according to Ideal Home.
Who lives in the house?
Ffion and James Baker live there with their daughters and their cat, Poppy. Ffion is a holistic therapist, and James is a property developer who specialises in Grade II-listed buildings.
How long did the renovation take?
Ffion told Ideal Home that the work took two years from start to finish.
What were the main changes?
The couple improved insulation and heating, opened up the kitchen and dining area, updated the kitchen and bathrooms, restored historic details and added storage and panelling. They also created an alternative bat roost in a barn after finding bats in the roof, Baker said.
Are the barns now holiday accommodation?
The couple planned to develop the barns into a holiday let, but the report does not confirm whether the accommodation has opened.
Source: rss
