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Ffion and James Baker renovated a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall into a family home, completing the project over two years. Their work included insulation and a new heating system, changes to the interior layout, and measures to provide an alternative roost for bats found in the roof.
Ffion and James Baker have spent two years renovating a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, turning a run-down former equestrian property into a family home while retaining historic features. The project included a new heating system and insulation, a reworked kitchen and dining area, and an alternative roost for protected bats found in the roof, according to Ffion’s account in Ideal Home.
The Bakers bought the farmhouse despite not having planned to move. Ffion told Ideal Home that its character and rarity made it an opportunity they did not want to miss. James, a property developer who specialises in listed buildings, brought experience relevant to the renovation. The property came with land, stables and outbuildings that had fallen into disrepair; its interior had decor dating to the 1980s.
Work on the granite house included addressing problems with keeping it warm and dry. The couple focused on insulation and a new heating system, and dug a trench across fields to install a gas pipe, Ffion said. When they discovered bats in the roof, she said they followed conservation advice and created an alternative roost in the barns to allow the animals to relocate safely.
Inside, the couple removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room to create a shared family space. They also restored beams, updated the kitchen and bathrooms, and added wall panelling. The kitchen now has hand-painted grey units and marble worktops, while the hall includes bespoke storage and a restored archway and staircase. One daughter’s bedroom was stripped back to brick, fitted with new windows and divided to add an en suite, Ffion said.
Making a Listed Home Work
The renovation shows the practical demands of adapting an older, protected home for contemporary family use. Improving warmth and dryness in a granite building, changing its internal layout and dealing appropriately with bats required more than cosmetic updates. The Bakers’ experience also illustrates how work on a listed property can involve balancing household needs with conservation advice.
The couple also plan to use the property’s outbuildings beyond the main home: Ffion runs her holistic therapy business, The Healing Barn, from one of the converted barns. That gives the renovation a working dimension, alongside its role as a family residence. The report does not provide project costs or details of any formal permissions, so the financial and regulatory scope cannot be assessed from the account alone.
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From Equestrian Centre to Home
Before the renovation, the property had been operated as an equestrian centre, with stables, land and neglected outbuildings. The Bakers’ stated plan was to make the farmhouse a spacious home and develop the barns as a holiday let. The Ideal Home report describes the farmhouse as Grade II listed, a designation that makes care for its historic character a central part of the project.
The interior changes were made alongside restoration rather than replacing every older detail. The couple retained and repaired features including the beams, staircase and archway, while using softer historic paint shades and adding modern facilities. Ffion said the project took two years, which she described as quick given the amount of work completed.
“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
Project Costs and Permissions
The Ideal Home account does not state the renovation’s total cost, whether the couple received grants, or which planning and listed-building consents were required. It also does not give technical details about the insulation, heating system or the alternative bat roost, or confirm whether the proposed holiday let is operating. Those details cannot be established from the published account.
Orchard and Chickens Planned
The Bakers’ stated next plans are to grow an orchard and raise chickens, which Ffion described as a nod to the farmhouse’s heritage. She also said the family intends to remain in the house. The report does not give a schedule for the orchard or explain when, or whether, the barns will be developed into a holiday let.
Key Questions
Where is the renovated farmhouse?
It is a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, according to Ideal Home.
Who lives in the farmhouse?
Ffion and James Baker live there with their daughters and their cat, Poppy, according to the report.
How long did the renovation take?
Ffion said the work took two years from start to finish.
What happened when bats were found in the roof?
Ffion said the couple followed conservation advice and built an alternative roosting space in the barns so the bats could relocate safely.
What are the family’s plans for the property?
Ffion said they plan to grow an orchard and raise chickens. The couple had also planned to develop the barns into a holiday let, but the report does not confirm whether that work has been completed.
Source: rss
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