COUNTRY COMFORTS

Old and new mingle in harmony when a barn on a working dairy farm is converted into a rustic modern retreat thanks to its owner's quirky vision

- LORI COHEN

A 170-year-old barn proved too much of a temptation for Illze Muller to ignore. The 1450 square foot shed was in a state of inertia on the working dairy farm she shares with her husband Wouter and three children. Illze's vision for Langskuur (Afrikaans for 'long barn'), conceived for visiting family and guests, was to retain the original footprint, roof space and feel of the barn, embracing it as a loftlike space, with different living zones mapped throughout. 'I didn't want to change any of the features or proportions of the structure if we could help it,' says Illze. 'So we started from a place of working with what we had. However, to compensate for the consequential poor natural light in the barn, she shrewdly installed two new glass doors, simultaneously illuminating the space, flooding it with pastoral views and giving it a contemporary flair.

The farm, home to Friesland and Jersey cattle, is nestled in a countrified corner of the Western Cape, a couple of hours' drive from Cape Town. Illze, a vintage hunter, collector of curiosities and design lover, harnessed the metal and woodwork skills of local Hannes Oosthuizen to patch together the windows, floors and walls using salvaged wood and iron.

Throughout the project, she also called on Hannes to craft numerous items based on designs she dreamed up. From an ornate chicken coop in the courtyard to bottle dryerinspired chandeliers, it's these details that give the project its authenticity and quirk. 'I enjoy the collaborative process. I come up with the ideas and guide Hannes as he makes them. It's very rewarding for both of us,' says Illze.