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Ffion and James Baker have renovated a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, reshaping it for family life while restoring features such as its beams, staircase and archways. The couple say the two-year project also improved insulation and heating, and included measures to provide an alternative roost for bats found in the roof.
Ffion and James Baker have renovated a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, updating its layout and services while retaining historic details. In a report by Ideal Home, Ffion describes how the two-year project turned a former equestrian property with dated interiors into a family home, while also adapting outbuildings for other uses.
The Bakers bought the property despite not actively looking to move. Ffion told Ideal Home that the house’s rarity made it an opportunity they did not want to miss. James, a property developer who specialises in listed buildings, had experience with the demands of the work, she said.
The farmhouse had previously been used as part of an equestrian centre, with land, stables and run-down outbuildings. Inside, Ffion said, the decoration was dated. The couple’s plan was to make the main house work for family life and develop the barns as a holiday let.
Work included removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room, restoring beams and an original archway, updating the kitchen and bathrooms, and adding panelling. The couple also addressed insulation and heating in the granite building. Ffion said the work took two years and involved installing a new gas pipe through a trench across the fields.
Making a Listed Home Work Today
The project shows the practical choices involved in adapting a listed farmhouse for contemporary family use. The Bakers changed the internal layout to create a shared family space, while retaining features including the staircase, coving and archways rather than treating the house as a blank slate.
Its challenges extended beyond decoration. Ffion said the granite construction made it difficult to keep the house warm and dry, prompting investment in insulation and a new heating system. The account also highlights how work on an older property can involve wildlife protections: after bats were found in the roof, the couple said they followed conservation advice and created an alternative roost in the barns.
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From Equestrian Centre to Home
The property came with stables and outbuildings after its use as an equestrian centre. According to Ffion, the interiors included bright red and dark green walls, and the kitchen was more than 30 years old. The couple set out to renovate both the living spaces and the surrounding buildings.
Room-by-room changes included rebuilding a daughter’s bedroom, where Ffion said plaster had been falling from the walls, and adding an en suite. The bathroom was also rebuilt after a rotten window had allowed wisteria to grow through it. In the hall, bespoke storage was added, and the original staircase was sanded and repainted.
The barns have a continuing role in the family’s plans. Ffion said one converted outbuilding is now the base for her holistic therapy business, The Healing Barn. The couple also intend to develop barns as holiday accommodation, though the report does not give a completion date.
“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
Details Not Given in the Report
The Ideal Home account is based on the owners’ description of the renovation. It does not provide a breakdown of the project’s costs, permits or specialist assessments, nor does it detail which specific changes required listed-building consent. Those details cannot be established from the report.
The article also does not say whether the planned holiday let has opened or give a timetable for it. The Bakers’ account says they created an alternative bat roost after finding bats in the roof, but the report does not describe the species, numbers or the conservation process in detail.
Orchard, Chickens and Barn Plans
Ffion told Ideal Home that the couple plan to grow an orchard and raise chickens, reflecting the property’s farmhouse setting. She also described the house as the family’s long-term home.
The couple’s stated plan to develop the barns as a holiday let is another possible next step, but the report gives no schedule or confirmation that the project is under way. For now, the completed renovation has created a family home and a base for Ffion’s therapy business, according to her account.
Key Questions
Where is the farmhouse?
It is a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, according to the Ideal Home report.
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, the report says.
How long did the renovation take?
Ffion said the renovation took two years.
What historic features were retained?
The couple restored features including beams, an archway and the staircase, while adding modern facilities and changing the layout.
What remains planned for the property?
The Bakers have said they plan to develop the barns as a holiday let, grow an orchard and raise chickens. The report does not give a timetable for those plans.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
