A WARM WELCOME TO DEVON
In the Spring of 2025, I designed a living room for a couple who have recently settled in the South Hams after living and raising their family and building their careers in Berkshire. Drawn to the peaceful rhythm of the coast and countryside, they’ve now made a beautifully renovated barn their home, sharing it with their two dogs and embracing a slower, more grounded way of living.
My goal was to design a space that reflects this fresh chapter: calm, uplifting, and deeply connected to its surroundings.
ROOTED IN PLACE: MODERN COASTAL MEETS FARMHOUSE CHARACTER
Before the redesign, the living room still held many of the couple’s existing pieces from their previous home in Berkshire. These were well-loved items with history, but in this setting, a converted barn with varied ceiling heights and its own architectural quirks, they didn’t quite work together as a cohesive whole. This particular room has a low ceiling and you step down into the room from the kitchen, giving it a naturally cosy feel but also limiting the amount of light in the space. Combined with the darker, heavier furniture from their old home, the room felt more enclosed than they wanted. The redesign focused on honouring the barn’s character while introducing lighter tones, considered textures, and a clearer sense of flow to help the space feel brighter, more balanced, and better aligned with their new lifestyle.
The living room brings together a modern coastal style with gentle farmhouse elements that feel right at home in a rural barn just a short distance from the sea, where the couple love to walk the dog and wild swim. The design is also anchored by a key piece of local seascape artwork, which was brought before the room was designed. Its colours, movement, and atmosphere quietly guide the palette and tone of the entire scheme.
CREATING CALM
The colour palette draws from the coastline and the land around it: soft blues, warm neutrals, muted greens, and hints of rich, grounding browns. This mix creates a naturally harmonious backdrop - serene without feeling flat, and comforting without being heavy.
Texture is always such an important part of my design process, and in this room I really leaned into it. I mixed rustic woods with soft linens, stone, cotton, and a few touches of leather to bring in that lovely, tactile quality that makes a space feel instantly lived-in and inviting. I even retained a few items from the previous living room in the design, such as a slightly worn leather footstool for this reason. Because the barn already has so much character, I wanted the textures to complement it rather than compete with it.
I kept pattern subtle to maintain a sense of calm. It’s all about creating that quiet harmony where everything feels effortless, natural, and completely at ease.
I went for two sofas that complemented each other, but weren’t exactly the same. This creates depth and visual interest. It makes the room feel considered, but not too curated.
As for the media unit, the client wanted me to design a modest piece of cabinetry that would house their TV, but not draw attention it. We went for a simple white with a wood top, and finished it with a mix of accessories that spoke to the client’s personality - books about walking, plants and nice candles.
I absolutely love the barn-style coffee table from Still & Bloom, in fact I think it’s my favourite piece. It’s soft and makes the room feel really welcoming.
BALANCING THE LAYOUT
When you step in from the kitchen, the room opens up into a welcoming, inward-facing layout designed for conversation, reading, and relaxing together.
Originally, the layout of the space consisted of a very large corner sofa, a large three-seater sofa and another double sofa all looking into the space, but placed at either ends of the room. It felt crowded. I wanted to design a layout that encouraged conversation and didn’t just centre around watching TV. Different types of seating balance out the space, so it doesn’t feel too heavy with furniture. Now, a three-seater sofa sits along the back wall, with soft accent lighting in the corner. Two slim armchairs face into the space and on the right-hand side, a slightly smaller sofa balances the arrangement, creating symmetry and harmony.
Plants in the space bring the outside in from the natural light spilling in from the courtyard doors, and add to the natural, organic vibe of the space.
HONOURING WHAT WAS ALREADY THERE
As I said, keeping elements like the original footstool, flooring, cabinetry, and the existing wall panelling, helps retain the barn’s character and introduces a sense of continuity. These familiar pieces sit comfortably within the new design, adding warmth and personality.
One of the biggest challenges of this space was light—the room was previously very dark. By softening the palette, adding lighter furniture, introducing layered textures, and incorporating reflective materials and varied types of lighting, the space has been dramatically brightened. What was once a dim corner of the home now feels open, uplifting, and full of life.
The result? A serene living space for a peaceful life in South Devon.
PROJECT DELIVERABLES
Mood board
2D plan
3D model
3D renderings
Product research & selection (in collaboration with the client)
See the finished room below:
