Ever considered renovating your very own property? Or maybe you’ve got first-hand experience and fancy a sneak peek at how others do it?

This week you’re in luck. We’ve caught up with barn.renovation on Instagram for a quickfire Q&A session. They’ve done a spellbinding job of transforming an old, derelict barn into an interior designer’s paradise with zero previous experience!

We’ve got the lowdown on how much hard work goes into a project such as this, as well as some great advice for any Saints thinking about embarking on a similar venture of their own.

We also love how they’ve used some of our Shaker Bar Stools in their fantastic images – once you’ve read our Q&A, head straight over to their page on Instagram for more illustrative inspiration!

Here’s what barn.renovation had to say on their rejuvenating refurbishment:

Q1: Your finished project looks fabulous! How long have you had the ambition to do a barn conversion, and what first inspired you?

A1: This was actually our first renovation project! We were fortunate to spot this one at auction and only had a month or so from having the idea to go for it, to it happening. It was more chance that we spotted it when we did, and we had blind optimism on our side.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Q2: We notice you’ve used our WSG Shaker Bar Stools in some of your gorgeous photos! What’s your advice on picking furniture for your new space?         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A2: Designing a space with furniture that fits what you are going for and is going to last the test of time is so worth putting time and money into. It was helpful to ask ourselves – will I use this item everyday?

If I pay a bit extra am I getting better quality? We spend hours looking for stools (we knew we would use them everyday as we spend all our time at the island) and these ones are stylish and very comfy, so thanks!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Q3: Did you find anything unusual or interesting when you began exposing the old structure?

A3: The inside stone wall was initially covered in white render, so it was really stunning when that was uncovered and we realised we could bring some of the original stonework into the house.

Q4: What personal qualities does one need to embark upon a project like this?

A4: Willingness to give something a go, confidence to back decisions or ideas you think will work and an attitude that creates space for risks to be something fun(ish)!

Q5: What advice would you give someone hoping to do the same as you have?

A5: Your interiors are what you see every day, so take time to get them right. It’s worth investing in expertise, even if it’s to run your ideas by them.

Also, don’t allow builders to make design suggestions on your behalf, take pictures and be really clear on what you want.

Don’t let a big project put you off. If us beginners can do it (we knew NOTHING before this), honestly anyone can.

Q6: Thanks for sharing your thoughts and wonderful ideas with our Saints readers. And so finally, the sixty-four thousand dollar question – would you do it all over again?

A6: Firstly, I wish it had cost sixty-four thousand dollars! If someone had told us then how much it would cost and how long it would take, and all the hoops we had to jump through I really do think we may have thought twice.

But… like all the best things in life, you need a bit of naivety to get to places you otherwise might not have.

That’s some pretty sound advice to finish on! Sometimes a leap of faith is all we need to kickstart something really special. This guidance can be applied to so many things in life.

Their story is one that we can all take inspiration from, whether you’re looking at doing your own grand renovation or simply deciding on new furniture for the home! The main thing to take away from this is to be brave, have confidence in yourself and be amazed at what can be achieved when you put your mind towards something truly ambitious.

If our Shaker Bar Stools have piqued your interest, we’ve got plenty more where that came from. We’ve got a fantastic range of kitchen island stools in virtually every material and style, from wood to leather, metal to velvet, Scandi to industrial.

Whether you’re still in the planning stage or applying the finishing touches to your own renovation or space refresh, we’ll make your choice of furniture an easy one.

A massive thank you once again must go out to barn.renovation’s collaboration for this week’s blog. We’ll be looking at bringing you some more Q&A insights in the future, so stay tuned for further inspirational content.

Stay safe Saints, as always.

Feel the Love!