Barn at the edge of the forest

Another transformation of a old barn that left me almost speechless. Eventually I managed to find them to tell you about it. It's an old barn with stone walls and vertical and horizontal wooden beams, converted into a gorgeous holiday home. Bal Mawr Barn, roughly translated from Welsh as "Wonderful View from Above", is located in Wales, in a wooded area near Abergavenny. Seen from a distance you can hardly imagine that the stone barn at the edge of the woods is a cosy house with everything you need for a perfect holiday.

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

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

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

The table in the dining area is made of French oak and brought from France. It sits right next to the large glass doors so whatever the weather, you can enjoy nature when you sit at the table. On cold days you can sit inside in the warmth, while on warm days the large doors can open all the way to transition to the outdoor space.

The living room is bordered by two generous sofas, one of them in Chesterfield style, a Le Corbusier lounge chair and a coffee table. Also here are two antique cupboards, a fireplace and a woodburner. The 2 windows, one narrow, on the same wall as the generous doors and one well above the TV, have preserved old elements of the barn. The windows are positioned high enough to provide light without disturbing if you want to sit quietly in front of the TV.

Behind the enclosed dining area is the kitchen. The furniture is new, made of oak, built in classic style by local craftsmen. Old beams and elements of 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 into the wall. The staircase is solid, sturdy, with side protection posts joined by large glass panels. The same protection was chosen for the first floor.

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 isn't built very high, so the beams sit well, not suffocating, giving the feeling of a well-defined room, not a makeshift one. Here too, old elements are preserved, the thickness of the walls is subtle, which makes one think of a small castle. There is plenty of light, some of it coming from the two roof windows.

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

Even outside the little barn doesn't fall apart. All around you can find a place where, on sunny days, you can dine barefoot in the greasy 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've just described paradise?