Refurbishment and Restore Issue 16 2019 | Page 60

Fixed Flat Rooflights Let The Outdoors In At The Beautiful Linhay Restoring the crumbling ruins of the Linhay was Nick and Caroline Welch’s main priority when they undertook significant renovations of the fragmented, unloved shell - which sits hidden within the picturesque 30-acre site of Butterhills, North of Devon. But following unexpected redundancy, Nick and Caroline decided to use the building to provide a source of sustainable income as a holiday let and focused on transforming the space into a stunning, environmentally friendly cottage. Having been passed down through generations, Butterhills is now owned by Nick and Caroline who live there with their two teenage children, after making the beautiful valley, meadows and woods their home in 1989. Sourcing materials from the surrounding environment and using local tradespeople was important to Nick and Caroline. With that in mind, oak trees from Butterhills wood were felled and milled to provide the roof timbers and floor. The couple desperately wanted to prevent any further deterioration to the Linhay and give the building a meaningful purpose to reach its full potential. A contrasting modern extension was added to the side of the building to create an impressive shower room. Nick, a building services engineer by trade, had the skillset to introduce a sustainable water supply, plumbing and solar electrics – which was vital as the site is off-grid. Prior to the restoration, the initial plan was to convert the building into an open camping barn for friends and family to enjoy leisurely. 60 - www.refurbandrestore.co.uk