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Ffion and James Baker renovated a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, updating its layout, heating and interiors while restoring historic details. The two-year project also included a new roosting space for bats found in the roof; the family plans to develop an orchard and keep chickens.
Ffion and James Baker have completed a two-year renovation of a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, updating it for family life while retaining features such as its beams, staircase and archways. Their work included improving insulation and heating, reorganising the ground floor and providing an alternative roost for bats discovered in the roof, according to a profile published by Ideal Home.
The Bakers bought the property despite not originally planning to move. It had previously operated as an equestrian centre, with land, stables and run-down outbuildings. Ffion Baker told Ideal Home that the interiors were dated, but the house’s character and the rarity of the property persuaded the family to take it on. Her husband, James, is a property developer who specialises in listed buildings, she said.
Work focused both on the building’s condition and its day-to-day use. The couple addressed the challenges of keeping a granite house warm and dry with insulation and a new heating system. They also installed a gas pipe, which required a trench through fields, and opened up the kitchen and dining area to create a shared family space. The original beams were restored, while the kitchen and bathrooms were updated.
The renovation extended beyond the main house. The Bakers converted an outbuilding into a base for Ffion’s holistic therapy business, The Healing Barn, and developed the barns for holiday accommodation, according to the report. In one bedroom, they stripped back damaged plaster, installed new windows and divided the space to add an en suite. The family also restored the hall archway and staircase, and added bespoke storage and wall panelling.
Balancing Family Needs and Heritage
The project shows how a listed rural property can be adapted for contemporary use while retaining elements of its historic fabric. The Bakers’ changes addressed practical concerns—particularly warmth, damp and the layout—alongside cosmetic updates. For readers considering older homes, the account also makes clear that the work involved more than choosing finishes: it required building improvements and attention to protected wildlife.
The house now serves several purposes for the family: a home with more usable shared space, a setting for Ffion’s business and accommodation developed from former agricultural buildings. Those uses reflect the broader potential of disused farm structures, though the report does not provide details about the holiday let’s operation or the costs of the work.
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From Equestrian Centre to Home
Before the Bakers’ renovation, the property’s grounds included stables and other outbuildings associated with its use as an equestrian centre. Inside, Ffion described the decoration as dating from the 1980s. The family’s stated aim was to make the farmhouse a spacious home and convert the barns for holiday guests.
Its Grade II listing means the building is recognised for its special architectural or historic interest. The report describes restoration of original details alongside changes to the layout and services. It does not set out the planning or listed-building consent process, so the specific approvals involved are not established in the published account.
“We weren’t looking to move when it came up for sale, but a house like this one is such a rare find we knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
— Ffion Baker, speaking to Ideal Home
Costs, Approvals and Wildlife Details
The report does not disclose the renovation budget, the value of the property or a detailed breakdown of the work. It also does not specify which permissions were required for changes to the listed building, or provide independent confirmation of the project timeline and construction details; these are presented through the homeowner’s account.
The article says bats were found in the roof and that an alternative roost was built following conservation advice. It does not identify the species, explain how relocation was monitored or give further information about the outcome. The future plans for an orchard and chickens are also plans rather than completed additions.
Plans for the Farmhouse Grounds
Baker told Ideal Home that the family intends to plant an orchard and raise chickens, drawing on the farmhouse’s agricultural history. The report does not give a timetable for those plans. The family’s therapy business is already based in a converted outbuilding, while the barns have been developed for holiday accommodation.
No further renovation milestone or public update is specified in the article. The next changes described are the Bakers’ own plans for the grounds, rather than a scheduled project announcement.
Key Questions
Where is the renovated farmhouse?
It is a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, according to the Ideal Home profile.
Who lives in the farmhouse?
Ffion and James Baker live there with their daughters and their cat, Poppy. Ffion is a holistic therapist, and James works as a property developer, the report says.
How long did the renovation take?
Ffion Baker said the project took two years from start to finish.
What changes did the Bakers make?
They improved insulation and heating, opened up the kitchen and dining area, updated the kitchen and bathrooms, restored features including beams and the staircase, and converted outbuildings for business and holiday accommodation.
What are the family’s plans for the property?
Baker told Ideal Home that the family plans to grow an orchard and raise chickens. The article does not give a schedule for those plans.
Source: rss
