Tucked away on the lush grounds of an English estate, that 1900s stable once placed precious racehorses before suffering decades of neglect. But despite the absence of electricity and modern plumbing, the construction was relatively sound and stood steady, so the owners worked with architect Andy Ramus to flip it into a modern guesthouse, saving everything they could out of the initial arrangement. The initial stable walls and doors specify the brand new layout; they stand out amid the brand new neutral palette. Converted trough sinks, towel holders produced from horse twists and sliding secure doors complement Ramus’ easy, modern additions flawlessly.

in a Glance
Who lives here: This is a guesthouse for a household of 5.
Location: Hampshire, England
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, two baths
Budget: 150,000 British pounds (about U.S.$232,000); includes design fees, labour, building, demolition, and plumbing and electrical work

AR Design Studio Ltd

The roof suffered the most damage, so Ramus stripped and retiled it. The clients wanted the new home to conserve energy and heat, so Ramus created cavities beneath the roof and in the walls for thick spray-foam insulation. The big windows — once admissions into every secure bay — are made of double-glazed glass.

AR Design Studio Ltd

Ramus and his team saved everything they could indoors. They went through the process gradually, preserving anything which wasn’t seriously rotted or damaged. Everything that had to be replaced is easy, clean and white to highlight the building’s history. “We wanted the new layout to be uncompromisingly minimal, so as to not crowd the previous features,” says Ramus.

These photographs were shot before the owners supplied the home; they added minimal furniture to highlight the brand new, clean structure.

AR Design Studio Ltd

The secure walls still stand, laid out in bays once employed by racehorses. Rather than knocking them down, Ramus used them to specify the new layout. The kitchen sits in the prior tack home, with all the walls and doors repaired in their original positions.

AR Design Studio Ltd

The former stable isn’t a fulltime residence, so Ramus stuck into the principles in the kitchen, cutting back on plumbing and electrical needs. The kitchen opens into an adjoining dining room lit by skylights, filling the house with natural light.

AR Design Studio Ltd

Ramus divided the six secure bays from the lengthy layout and place sleeping spaces at the same side and living spaces in the opposite. The kitchen and dining room sits in the middle of the construction.

AR Design Studio Ltd

The easy new material palette, such as polished concrete for the flooring, has industrial and agricultural undertones to signify the building’s history. Before pouring the cement, Ramus excavated the floor and added ridge-foam insulation and radiant heating. Even in British winters, the building requires little additional heat.

AR Design Studio Ltd

First stable partitions frame the master bedroom. Ramus and his team cleaned, refurbished and stripped the worn wood to reveal the craftsmanship. The wood now highlights each nick, scrape and bulge from years of housing horses.

AR Design Studio Ltd

Two of the bedrooms, including the mastersuite, have en suite baths.

AR Design Studio Ltd

First horse troughs were cleaned up and turned to sink basins for the baths. The horse ties on each basin serve as towel rings.

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