Built around a beautifully landscaped garden, this expansive stone and flint house in Bishopstone, near Seaford, East Sussex, is nestled in the surrounding landscape. The original building dates from the late 17th century, with some later additions. The home comprises a set of former agricultural buildings, meticulously transformed to wonderful effect. High-quality materials and playful flourishes appear throughout, creating a set of spaces that balance new with old with ease.

Setting the Scene

Dog Kennel Barn was built in 1688, when it served as a kennel for hunting dogs. It lies within Bishopstone Village conservation area in the heart of the South Downs National Park. The village itself is extremely pretty and boasts a charming Anglo-Saxon church from 716AD.

In the 1970s, the home was an agricultural barn, but was transformed into its present iteration in 2007. In addition to the main, six-bedroom house, there is a garden annexe with its own bedroom, kitchen/living space and shower room. Large windows in the main house afford views across the fields to the sea or gardens. Rich materials and beautiful paint colours from the likes of Paper and Paint Library are used throughout.

The Grand Tour

The house is approached via a country road, which opens out to a large gravel parking area and carport via a timber gate. Wide steps lead up to the home’s main entrance, which is formed from the recycling of a threshing floor.

From the front door is a hallway with beautiful doors leading to a sitting room beyond. This is a delightful space with exposed beams and hardwood floors. The adjoining second sitting room/dining room is similarly capacious and has huge glazed doors leading out to a garden. There is an open fireplace at one end, an exposed original flint wall on one side and smooth elm flooring underfoot.

From the first sitting room is the kitchen, which has similarly generous proportions. An expansive island sits at the centre with a limestone counter and integral appliances. Hard-wearing porcelain floor tiles have been laid, and bespoke oak shelving provides plenty of storage. There is room here for a second dining space, if desired. Stairs lead down to a snug beyond with its wood-burning stove and then on to a large utility room and adjoining boot room.

There are three bedrooms in the west wing of the house, including the principal, which has a sublime en suite bathroom with CP Hart fixtures as well as a separate dressing room. Two smaller bedrooms here have access to a bath and shower room.

The remaining bedrooms are in the east of the house; stairs with green spindles ascend to the first floor, where rooms emanate from a gallery-style landing. Another large bedroom here could serve as an alternative principal with its superb en suite bathroom and balcony with views to the sea. The two remaining bedrooms (one of which is currently used as an office) share a large Jack and Jill bathroom.