Houzz Tour: A Converted Stable Makes a Quirky Guesthouse
Once the home of racehorses, this converted stable is now a delightful modern dwelling with oodles of horsey charm
Tucked away on the lush grounds of a Hampshire estate, this beautiful stable once housed prized racehorses before suffering decades of neglect. But despite the lack of electricity and modern plumbing, the structure was relatively sound and stood steady, so the owners worked with architect Andy Ramus to turn it into a modern guesthouse, saving what they could from the original structure.
The original stable doors and walls now define the new layout; and the neutral palette allows them to shine. In addition, converted trough sinks with towel holders made from horse ties, along with sliding stable doors complement Ramus’s simple, modern renovation perfectly.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here This is a guesthouse for a family of five
Location Hampshire
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The original stable doors and walls now define the new layout; and the neutral palette allows them to shine. In addition, converted trough sinks with towel holders made from horse ties, along with sliding stable doors complement Ramus’s simple, modern renovation perfectly.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here This is a guesthouse for a family of five
Location Hampshire
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The stable roof had suffered the most damage, so Ramus stripped and retiled it. The clients wanted the new house to conserve energy and heat, and so Ramus created cavities under the roof and in the walls for thick spray-foam insulation. The large windows – once entrances into each stable bay – are made of double-glazed glass.
Ramus and his team saved everything they could on the inside. They went through the process slowly, preserving anything that wasn’t seriously rotted or damaged. Everything that had to be replaced is simple, clean and white to highlight the building’s historical areas.
‘We wanted the new design to be uncompromisingly minimal, so as not to crowd the old features,’ says Ramus.
These photos were taken before the owners furnished the house; they added minimal furniture to emphasise the new, clean architecture.
‘We wanted the new design to be uncompromisingly minimal, so as not to crowd the old features,’ says Ramus.
These photos were taken before the owners furnished the house; they added minimal furniture to emphasise the new, clean architecture.
The stable walls still stand, laid out in bays once used by racehorses. Instead of knocking them down, Ramus used them to define the new layout. The kitchen sits in the former tack house, with all of the walls and doors fixed in their original positions.
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The former stable isn't a full-time residence, so Ramus stuck to the basics in the kitchen, cutting down on plumbing and electrical needs. The kitchen opens to an adjacent dining room lit by skylights, filling the home with natural light.
Ramus divided the six stable bays in the long layout and put sleeping spaces at one end and living spaces at the other. The kitchen and dining area sits at the centre of the structure.
The simple new material palette, including polished concrete for the floors, has industrial and agricultural undertones to reflect the building’s history. Before pouring the concrete, Ramus excavated the floor and added ridge-foam insulation and radiant heating. Even in British winters, the building requires little additional heating.
Original stable walls frame the master bedroom. Ramus and his team cleaned, stripped and refurbished the worn wood to reveal the craftsmanship. The treated wood now highlights every nick, bump and scrape from years of housing horses.
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Two of the bedrooms, including the master, have ensuite bathrooms.
Original horse troughs were cleaned up and turned into sink basins for the bathrooms. The horse ties on each basin serve as towel rings.
Do you live in a converted building? What type? If not, would you like to? Tell us in the Comments below.
Do you live in a converted building? What type? If not, would you like to? Tell us in the Comments below.