Life in the country

Settling on a new home proved a challenge for Julie and Alick Kitchin, until they saw this converted granary barn in an stunning rural location

- HOLLY REANEY

Julie and Alick Kitchin nearly didn't see the converted granary barn they now call home. Running late and halfway through a busy day of viewings, they were the last to see the house. They had decided to move back to the south from Edinburgh when Alick retired, and after looking everywhere from Somerset to the Cotswolds and the New Forest, they thought the barn could be what they were looking for. Built in the early 19th century, it had stood derelict for many years until a developer converted it and when the Kitchins arrived in 2017, it was functional but soulless.