Houzz Tour: An Old Dairy Gets a Contemporary Twist
Soothing neutrals and a mix of old and new transform a dilapidated Suffolk dairy into an elegant home
When it came to designing the interior of The Dairy, the owners were leaning toward an elegant monochrome scheme, but interior designer Lindsey Rendall wasn’t so sure. “When I first saw the building, I thought monochrome would be too harsh,” she says. “I remember it was a summer evening, and I felt soft grays and greens would be much better. When it comes to choosing color schemes, I think the surroundings of a building are important, and that’s what inspired my choices.”
When she was asked to work her magic on the 19th-century dairy, Rendall knew the building’s history would play a major role in its redevelopment. She had worked with the owners before, and they trusted her vision, but there were still obstacles. Working with a building listed as historic poses a number of challenges, and there was a three-month planning process to navigate before any work on the structure could begin.
Rendall’s job was to bring together a team of highly skilled professionals to restore and extend the old dairy and create a contemporary living space sympathetic to the building’s origins. The facade of the building could be restored but not altered in any way, so Rendall hired local craftspeople with an understanding of local materials and techniques. The project took nine months to complete, and the result is an award-winning, serene, bright, contemporary home with a salute to the past.
When she was asked to work her magic on the 19th-century dairy, Rendall knew the building’s history would play a major role in its redevelopment. She had worked with the owners before, and they trusted her vision, but there were still obstacles. Working with a building listed as historic poses a number of challenges, and there was a three-month planning process to navigate before any work on the structure could begin.
Rendall’s job was to bring together a team of highly skilled professionals to restore and extend the old dairy and create a contemporary living space sympathetic to the building’s origins. The facade of the building could be restored but not altered in any way, so Rendall hired local craftspeople with an understanding of local materials and techniques. The project took nine months to complete, and the result is an award-winning, serene, bright, contemporary home with a salute to the past.
The elegant but understated soft furnishings are made from natural materials wherever possible. The sofa, in charcoal-gray brushed cotton, is from OneDeko, while the walls, units and dining table are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath. This pale hue allows the furniture to recede into the background, as Rendall didn’t want the accessories to distract from the building itself.
It was important to Rendall that traditional methods were used in the renovation to respect the building’s history. Look closely at the kitchen breakfast bar and you’ll notice the dovetailing — evidence of a skilled carpenter — lending it an authentic feel.
The simplicity of the beautifully crafted kitchen masks high-end appliances, such as the range. The units were built for Rendall by Unpainted Kitchens to her own design, then painted in Elephant’s Breath (a gray) to reflect the rest of the scheme.
Rendall scoured the area for craftspeople who share her passion for detail, and enlisted the help of blacksmith Jim Lawrence, who lives nearby, to create the door handles and hinges.
The knitted throw, silky cushions and buttoned headboard and ottoman bring an understated elegance to the bedroom.
Rendall chose the bedside tables from local furniture maker Jan Cavelle and had them altered to suit the scheme.
Bed: Sofa.com; lamp: Oka
Bed: Sofa.com; lamp: Oka
The bedroom melds new and old, with the specially built wardrobes slotted neatly under the original beam. Floor-to-ceiling cotton curtains diffuse the light for a serene mood.
In another nod to the original building, Rendall made this beam the main feature in the bathroom. She created texture by using mosaic tiles behind the gently curving BC Designs bath.
The walled garden was filled with concrete when Rendall enlisted the help of landscape gardener Paul Baines. Together they worked to create a garden that reflected the soft shades used inside the house.
Rendall wanted the garden furniture to complement the interior, so she chose pale gray pieces in interesting textures.
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See more modern expressions of the traditional farmhouse
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Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
Owners: Diana and Peter Williams
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Designer: Lindsey Rendall, Rendall & Wright
Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Rendall used a muted palette of soft grays and greens to create a calming environment, as can be seen here in the open-plan living area. The beams are original, but she took up the old cobbled floor — worn after years of being trampled by cows — to make way for hard-wearing engineered oak.
Nothing shouts for attention in this home; the beauty lies in the detail. The heavy wooden doors, while not original, are based on the original design and were made by a local craftsman. Rendall chose glass to section off the mezzanine above to allow as much light as possible to filter through.