OPEN HOUSE

Samantha Todhunter has combined industrial elements, joyous textiles and tactile materials to turn a former cowshed into a welcoming space

- RACHEL LEEDHAM

Entrance

A black steel beam and Crittall doors punctuate the mellow palette of stone and timber and are complemented by a striking statement charcoal drawing. Table, La Maison Chic. Antique rug and artwork, both Lorfords. Glass pendant, The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair

Dining area

Oversized lamps, patterned plates and gleaming glass. candlesticks form a colourful counterpoint to the hefty antique furniture in this space. Lamp bases and plates, Penny Morrison. Glass candlesticks, Pooky THERE WAS

Entrance

The barn's weathered features, such as the exposed beams, are juxtaposed with a resolutely modern steel staircase. Building works, Hammond Building Contractors

Susannah and Ivan Forsythe, the owners of this former cowshed in Dorset, acquired the ramshackle structure four years ago. 'I poked my head inside and thought how the heck will this become a wonderful space to spend time in?' Susannah admits. She and Ivan had their eye on the cowshed and the adjacent threshing barn ever since they bought their 16th-century farmhouse in the Stour Valley 20 years ago. 'These buildings were once part of the farm and we always thought they would make lovely accommodation for our grown children, their families and friends, Susannah explains.

The cowshed dates from the late 19th century and is the larger of the two barns (the renovated threshing barn was featured in the May issue). 'We wanted to show the features of the building - all the old trusses and purlins,' explains Susannah, who worked with architects Llewellyn Harker Lowe on a design that celebrates the volume of the property with a soaring double-height entrance complete with a striking black steel staircase.