TREASURE HUNTING

 Matt and Alice Cobon have put their heart and soul into creating an architecturally beautiful home 11 that's a perfect example of modern rural living

- ALICE HUMPHRYS

With busy London lives, we'd always loved escaping to Dorset,' says Matt Cobon, talking about the first time he and wife Alice viewed their West Country farmhouse, back in 2013. It's a beautiful part of the world, and as self-confessed foodies, the vibrant restaurant scene and potential to explore local produce is an added attraction. When the opportunity presented itself to take on a new renovation project, Dorset was where we naturally focused our search.'

The 19th-century stone farmhouse is set a short distance from the Jurassic coast, within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and with unspoilt views of the rolling Dorset countryside. The property had been in the same family for more than 60 years and was in desperate need of love and attention. But with its adjoining barn and series of dilapidated outhouses, plus 16 acres of wild gardens and meadows, it was a project the couple could sink their heart and soul into.

'We both have a passion for interior design and wanted to modernise the property in a way that bridged the gap between contemporary and traditional living. We quickly earmarked the large, adjoining barn as the new kitchen/living area, and drew up plans to maximise the space upstairs by reconfiguring the warren of small rooms connected by a narrow winding corridor. Restoring period character back into the property was also top of the list. With London as our main base and a trusted team of builders on site, we were able to jump into a full renovation without worrying about the impact on our everyday lives.'