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Ffion and James Baker renovated a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, updating its layout, heating and rooms while retaining period features. The couple say the two-year project also included providing an alternative roost for protected bats found in the roof.
Ffion and James Baker have completed a two-year renovation of a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, reworking its layout and services for family life while retaining features such as its beams, staircase and archways. The project also addressed the needs of protected bats found in the roof, Ffion told Ideal Home.
The Bakers bought the property despite not having planned to move. Ffion said its condition was challenging: it had previously been used as an equestrian centre, with stables and run-down outbuildings, while the interior had decor dating from the 1980s. The couple’s plan was to make a family home and convert barns into holiday accommodation.
Work included improving insulation and installing a new heating system. Because the farmhouse is built of granite, Ffion said keeping it warm and dry was a particular challenge. The couple also dug a trench across fields to bring in a new gas pipe, according to her account.
Inside, they removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room to create a shared family area, restored beams and the staircase, and updated the kitchen and bathrooms. They added hallway storage, wall panelling and new windows in a daughter’s bedroom, where they also created an en suite. Ffion described the kitchen as a replacement for one more than 30 years old, with hand-painted grey units and marble worktops.
Adapting a Listed Home for Family Life
The renovation shows the practical work involved in adapting a historic home: the Bakers changed how rooms connect and upgraded heating and insulation while working around the building’s listed status and existing character. For readers considering an older property, the account highlights that decisions about layout, warmth and repairs can be as central as choosing finishes.
The project also involved wildlife considerations. Ffion said the family discovered bats in the roof and followed conservation advice, building an alternative roost in the barns. The profile does not detail the approvals or technical specifications, but the account makes clear that the work had to respond to the protected animals as well as the house.
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From Equestrian Centre to Home
When the Bakers viewed the farmhouse, its grounds included land, stables and neglected outbuildings, and the interior needed substantial updating. Ffion said she and James saw an opportunity because the property was unusual, while James’s experience as a developer specialising in Grade II-listed buildings gave him relevant knowledge for the renovation.
The work took two years, according to Ffion. The report describes the result as a family home with an open-plan kitchen and dining area, refreshed bathrooms and converted outbuildings. Ffion also runs her holistic therapy business, The Healing Barn, from one of the converted buildings, she told Ideal Home.
“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
Renovation Details Not Disclosed
The account is a homeowner profile based on Ffion Baker’s description of the project. It does not give the renovation’s cost, the property’s exact location, a detailed schedule of approvals, or technical information about the heating and insulation systems. It also does not specify the final status or operating arrangements of the planned holiday let in the barns.
The report says the family built an alternative roost after finding bats and followed conservation advice, but it does not name the species, explain how relocation was monitored or provide details of any specialist assessment. Those details cannot be confirmed from the published account.
Plans for the Farmhouse Grounds
The Bakers’ next stated plans are to grow an orchard and raise chickens, which Ffion described as a nod to the farmhouse’s heritage. The profile does not give a timetable for either project. It also does not say when the converted barns will be available as holiday accommodation.
For now, the reported renovation is complete, and Ffion says she operates The Healing Barn from an outbuilding. Any further building work or changes to the grounds have not been announced in the source material.
Key Questions
Where is the farmhouse?
The Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse is in rural Cornwall. The Ideal Home profile does not give its exact location.
Who lives in the house?
Ffion Baker and her husband James live there with their daughters and their cat, Poppy, according to the profile.
What changes did the renovation include?
The Bakers updated the heating and insulation, opened up the kitchen and dining area, restored period features and renovated the kitchen and bathrooms. They also added storage and made changes to a daughter’s bedroom.
How long did the renovation take?
Ffion Baker said the project took two years from start to finish.
What are the family planning next?
Baker said the family plans to grow an orchard and raise chickens. The profile does not provide a schedule for those plans or a date for the barns’ proposed holiday-let use.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
