Converting two barns near Richmond into luxurious holiday lets was a huge project, inside and out, but the end results are simply stunning. Jenny Needham reports

Guests to Greenbank Barns in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside near Richmond can now sit in a wood-fired hot tub, champagne flute in hand, and stare up at the stars, before retiring to their luxury holiday let for the night. But not so long ago, the barns were derelict - no roof, no flooring, no staircase, just agricultural shells.

"On my first visit, pre first fit, there were just basic stud walls," says interior designer Alyson Savage, of Barnard Castle-based Niche Living. "The workmen were chuckling as we walked around and as I teetered up and down the ladder to the first floor in my heels."

Designing the interior of these two large spaces was the biggest project Alyson has taken on so far, and a challenge she and her team relished. The brief from owners Helen and Tim Westgarth was to transform two run-down barns into luxury holiday lets with a contemporary country twist. And dealing with a totally blank canvas meant that they could really unleash their creativity.

"We thought it would be nice to introduce some of the design elements that we see in the glossy house magazines," says Alyson. "Most of us would find it too much of a challenge to introduce these into our homes but with a blank canvas and Tim and Helen's desire to come up with a unique offering, we were left free to explore, introducing elements such as slate-top tables and funky light fittings, and creating design-led rooms with an up-to-the-minute feel."

Tim, 42, and 36-year-old Helen live on the farm Tim grew up on in nearby Hartforth. They have a four-year-old son, Harry, and a baby due any minute. Tim's roots are deep in the area – his family have farmed in the area since the 1930s. He and his brother bought Greenbank in 2011, primarily for the 100 acres of land, a farmhouse and the outbuildings came with it. The farmhouse was renovated in 2012 and then work began on the barns in 2013.

"Having completed the farmhouse, we realised the potential of the barns and thought it would be an interesting project to transform them into holiday lets," says Helen. "The outlook they have is stunning with uninterrupted views across the Holmedale valley."

In years gone by, the barns had been used as a cow byre and granary, although they hadn't had animals in them for a number of years when the builders started work.

"Having worked with a local architect and designed how the space could be arranged the next step was interiors. Niche Living was recommended by a friend, and with nine bedrooms and huge reception rooms, I knew I'd need some help," says Helen.

The quality of the building works - the stunning beams, the exposed stonework - was such that the interior design team was inspired to match it with a top-quality finish. No corners were cut on this renovation journey. "Nobody who worked on the Greenbank Barns gave anything but their very best; that's immediately apparent as you walk through the doors," says Helen. "The feedback from all our visitors has been, why would anybody develop this fabulous space and then offer it to the general public?

"My personal favourite room is the large open plan living/dining room in Dexter. At more than 100 sq metres, the sheer scale of it means you can appreciate the history of the building and the views out down the valley. The glass roof above the dining area floods the room with light and is really pretty on an evening."

The large scale of the living spaces demanded a dramatic treatment. "We were drawn to the stronger end of the Farrow & Ball paint palette," says Alyson. "We didn't want to overfill the rooms and opted to use a few large-scale and dramatic pieces to carry the look."

Alongside the Niche Interiors team, Helen was hands-on with the design side of the project throughout and was determined from the outset that the two barns - Shorthorn and Dexter - should have their own identities. It was her strong belief that nothing should be repeated and that they should deliver two different experiences. The team researched lots of different holiday lets countrywide before deciding to opt for an overall 'modern' feel, with fresh, new soft furnishings. "Helen's style is very clean cut," says Alyson. "We did stretch her boundaries on occasion and as she developed a great trust in us, she let us run with some over-sized and quirky ideas."

"Lots of holiday lets countrywide have a similar, rather formulaic look, but we wanted to embrace the drama and scale of the buildings. However, trying to find a dining table that could compete with the scale of one of the rooms and seat ten was impossible so some elements had to be bespoke."

The design team also had to bear in mind that the barns were going to be rented out, so durability was important. All the fabrics used were not only selected for colour, texture and style, but an eye to longevity. Hard-wearing wool carpets and rugs from Crucial Trading were laid throughout. "Our hope is that guests will treat the barns as they do their own homes, but realistically there may be a few who won't so it's important that the fabrics and furnishings can sustain hard wear and tear," says Helen.

As Helen embraced colour, the Farrow & Ball paint colours chosen kept getting stronger and stronger. The barns are flooded with natural light and perfect for some deeper tones. "The number of tins of Stiffkey Blue we have sold since the first images went live demonstrates how many people think what we have done is inspirational," says Alyson. "We also had a customer in who wanted to recover her chair in the superb ochre yellow we used in one of the lounges."

Helen first approached Niche Living in November last year, and the Greenbank Barns project was finally completed earlier this summer. The team have supplied more than 20 Roman blinds and 14 sets of curtains, they have had bespoke upholstery done to enhance the unique feel, they've supplied paint, lighting and furniture and dressed and styled the rooms.

"It's been exhausting, but enormously satisfying," says Alyson. "As we walked through the properties when they were finally finished, I

felt immensely proud and privileged to have been part of the amazing project. Best of all, we have made new friends, and it is our hope that Helen and Tim are equally happy with the end result. I think they must be. Helen is itching for us to get started on her own home. Just don't tell Tim!"

Greenbank Barns can be rented separately as four or five bedroom holiday homes for up to eight or ten people, or combined for up to 18 people, making it the ideal place for larger groups if you are thinking about a family get-together, a sophisticated hen do or any other special occasion. Additional children can be accommodated in cots and z-beds.

The properties at Greenbank Barns are dog-friendly and both barns have their own private wooden hot tubs made from Siberian larch.

Guests can order special treats in advance of their stay, such as a bottle of Champagne, a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, Taste of Yorkshire hampers or a celebration cake from Super Cool Cakes in nearby Richmond to be waiting for you on arrival. And if you can't be bothered to cook, two local catering companies are available to cater for you.

Greenbank Barns, Ravensworth, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL11 7HB.

W: holidayathome.co.uk/greenbankbarns; E: enquiries@holidayathome.co.uk; T: 01748-850-333.

CONTACTS

Hot tubs – Badetonne: Lehar Voitra – lehar@sauna-badetonne.com

Glazing - Geoff Yarrow 01748-850305

Building materials - S&A Barnard castle 01833-690379

Floor tiles - Prices Paving & Tile Ltd – 01677-470999

Bathrooms - AQS bathrooms – 01388 420690

Kitchens - Jolly Kitchens – 01748-811916

Electrician - DH Electrics – 07917-713009

Roofing - Kearney roofing – 07814-994335

Architect - Malcolm Tempest 01677-450777

Interior materials (door handles etc) – Period House Store, Richmond - 01748-821500