The Big Picture

Instead of fussing about the little things, the owner of this converted barn has used statement lighting, bold artwork and strong colour to create an impressive family home with an inviting feel.

- Elizabeth Hutton With Arabella St John Parker

For some, decorating their entire home is a daunting, albeit exciting, challenge. For others, like interior designer Tor Vivian, it is their job. Having moved house eight times in the past 12 years, Tor, her husband, Tom, and their children, Daisy and George, have finally settled in a 19th-century converted barn near Ripon, Yorkshire. We talk to Tor about this very personal design project.

How much work did you do on the house? When we moved in, we had a bit of an issue with the layout. There was always going to be one room that people would need to walk through so I decided to make this an open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting room. Structurally, we did not knock down many walls but we did convert the garage into a suite of guest rooms, complete with its own boiler, so that we can shut that wing off when no one is staying.