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Ffion and James Baker renovated a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, updating its layout, insulation, heating and facilities while restoring features including beams, an archway and staircase. Ffion says the two-year project also addressed protected bats found in the roof; the family plans to grow 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 historic features. The project included new insulation and heating, a reworked kitchen and dining layout, and conservation measures after protected bats were found in the roof, according to Ffion’s account in Ideal Home.
The couple bought the property despite not having been actively looking to move. Ffion told Ideal Home that its historic character and rarity made it an opportunity they did not want to miss. Before the renovation, the site had operated as an equestrian centre, with land, stables and run-down outbuildings. She described the interior as dated, with bright red and dark green walls.
James, a property developer specialising in Grade II-listed buildings, took on the renovation with Ffion. The work included improving insulation and installing a new heating system to address the challenges of keeping the granite house warm and dry. The couple also dug a trench through the fields to connect a new gas pipe, Ffion said.
Inside, they opened up the kitchen and dining room to form a shared family space. They restored beams, updated the kitchen and bathrooms, added wall panelling, and redecorated in soft, historic-inspired shades. Ffion said the original kitchen was more than 30 years old; the replacement has hand-painted grey units and marble worktops. Bespoke hallway storage, restored woodwork and new windows in a daughter’s bedroom were also part of the work.
Modern Comfort in a Listed Home
The project shows the practical demands of adapting a listed rural property for everyday use: the Bakers had to address heating and moisture, revise the internal layout and modernise rooms while preserving older details. The account is relevant to readers considering historic homes because it describes both the family’s design choices and the complications they encountered.
The renovation also extended beyond the main house. The couple developed barns for holiday accommodation, and Ffion now runs her holistic therapy business from a converted outbuilding. The property therefore serves as a family home and place of work, with the surrounding land remaining part of their plans.
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From Equestrian Site to Family Home
Before the Bakers bought it, the property had been used as an equestrian centre. Its outbuildings and stables needed attention, while the interior’s decor reflected an earlier era. The couple’s aim, as Ffion described it to Ideal Home, was to create a larger, more usable family home and develop the barns as holiday accommodation.
The house’s Grade II listing and granite construction shaped the work. Ffion said the renovation was demanding alongside raising a young family, and described the project as fast-paced given its scale. Her husband’s experience with listed buildings informed their approach, though the report does not detail planning permissions or the full conservation process.
“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
Project Details Not Published
Ideal Home’s report gives the Bakers’ account but does not state the renovation’s total cost, identify the contractors, or provide a detailed schedule of approvals for work on the Grade II-listed house. It also does not specify the farmhouse’s age beyond describing it as Georgian, or provide independent assessments of the finished building.
Ffion said bats were found living in the roof and that the couple followed conservation advice, creating an alternative roost in the barns. The report does not say how many bats were involved, when they relocated, or which organisation advised the family. Those details are not independently documented in the material provided.
Orchard and Poultry Plans
The Bakers’ stated next plans are to grow an orchard and raise chickens, which Ffion described as a nod to the farmhouse’s heritage. The report does not give a timetable for either project or say whether the plans require further work or approvals.
The converted barns are intended for holiday accommodation, while Ffion is already using an outbuilding for her holistic therapy business. No further renovation phase or completion date for the holiday let is specified in the published account.
Key Questions
Where is the renovated farmhouse?
It is a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse in rural Cornwall, according to the Ideal Home report.
Who lives in the house?
Ffion and James Baker live there with their daughters and cat, Poppy. Ffion is a holistic therapist, and James is a property developer.
What work did the renovation include?
The Bakers improved insulation and heating, opened up the kitchen and dining area, updated the kitchen and bathrooms, restored beams and woodwork, and added features such as hallway storage and wall panelling.
How long did the renovation take?
Ffion told Ideal Home the project took two years. The report does not give exact start and completion dates.
What are the family planning to do next?
Ffion said the family plans to grow an orchard and raise chickens. No timetable was provided.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
