Barn at the edge of the forest

Another transformation of a old barn that left me almost speechless. I finally managed to find them to tell you about it. It's an old barn with stone walls and vertical and horizontal wooden beams, transformed into a beautiful vacation home. Bal Mawr Barn, roughly translated from the Welsh as "Wonderful View from Above", is located in Wales, in a wooded area near Abergavenny. Seen from afar, it's hard to imagine that the stone barn on the edge of the woods is a cozy home with everything you need for a perfect vacation.

What strikes you right from the start of this transformation is the perfect blend of new and old, the harmony between old pieces of furniture brought from French flea markets and modern fittings. The beams that have been saved are left exposed as are the old door frames and some of the doors. All the newly added wood has not been artificially aged, making the contrast even more interesting.

The house consists of living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. The main room is the living room, which is bright, even glowing with high ceilings and large, generous sliding glass doors that offer a wonderful view of Mount Bal Mawr. The house has under-floor heating, but to create a cozy, cozy atmosphere, there is also a wood-burning fireplace.

The living room is divided into two areas by furniture: the dining area and the living area. The living area is marked by sofas, coffee table and fireplace, and the dining area by a rustic wooden table and 4 massive chairs. The furniture is carefully chosen and is a mix of antiques taken from flea markets in France and objects brought from China or Morocco.

The table in the dining area is made of French oak and brought from France. It sits in front of large glass doors so whatever the weather, you can enjoy nature when you sit at the table. On cold days you can sit indoors in the warmth, while on warm days the large doors can be fully opened to transition to the outside space.

The living room is bordered by two generous sofas, one of them in the Chesterfield style, a Le Corbusier chaise longue and a small table. There are also two old cupboards, a fireplace and a wood burner. The 2 windows, one narrow, on the same wall as the generous doors, and one well above the TV, have preserved old barn features. The windows are positioned high enough so as to provide light without disturbing if you want to sit quietly watching TV.

Behind the enclosed dining area is the kitchen. The furnishings are new oak, built in classic style by local craftsmen. Old beams and elements of the old windows have been preserved here too. The kitchen is not as high as the living room because the bedroom was built above it.

Access to the bedroom, which is open and overlooks the entire living room, is via a staircase built against the wall. The staircase is solid, sturdy, with protective side posts joined by large glass panels. The same protection has been chosen upstairs.

Here there is a double bed, bedside tables with lamps on either side of the bed, a generous armchair and a wardrobe. On the floor, an old jute rug gives the place the air of home. This loft area is not built very high up, so the beams sit well and don't suffocate, giving the feeling of a well-defined room, not a makeshift one. Old elements are also preserved here, the thickness of the walls is understated, reminiscent of a small castle. There is plenty of light, some of it coming from the two roof windows.

At the base of the staircase, on the wall, is an old wooden door. But there's no sign of what's behind it. Open the door and you enter the dream bathroom. There's a generous shower cubicle, but also a bathtub, positioned right in front of the window. What more could you wish for than a rainy afternoon spent in the tub, glass of red wine in hand, in front of the window overlooking the heart of the forest. Haven't I made you dream?

The little barn doesn't fall apart outside either. Everywhere around you can find a place where, on sunny days, you can dine barefoot in the fat green grass. In fact everything is green, and I understand from the presentation of the place that not far from the barn there is a river where you can go fishing. Don't you think I have just described paradise?