The WOW factor Lounge

No photo can capture it… We designed the lounge to occupy more or less the whole barn area with only our mezzanine bedroom interrupting the high ceilings. In discussion with the builder Andrew, we agreed that we should provide a focus in the room with a new fireplace and chimney (previously un-budgeted for obviously). This really helped orientate the room as did the big wood burning “poêle” from Leroy Merlin (we deserve a platinum loyalty card for what we’ve spent in Leroy - pronounced Le Roi ). This was installed with the two large reversible ceiling fans (I’ll spare you the Malcolm explanation of why), suffice to say they help keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. After a long debate we decided to leave the floor with the naturally semi-polished concrete. After adding a few stencilled faded tiles and the odd Manchester bee, the whole floor was industrially varnished. The effect is enhanced by our Turkish and Moroccan rugs. The pièce de résistance was the wrought iron chandelier, found, negotiated and purchased from a brocante for Malcolm’s 70th. It only needed cleaning of rust, repainting and the full electrics redoing. Oh and lifting up (it weighs 30 kilos) to hang from the high rafters. I think he was actually a bit ungrateful! at first! You will also spot the odd feature of internal, old, originally external windows from the two bedrooms looking into the lounge, plus original “bent” beam left in place to support the mezzanine floor