Set in 600 acres of farm land, Mr Laybourn’s perfectly formed home has had a rich and varied history. The building’s origins are as an orangery to a manor house that once stood nearby, providing a bright environment to cultivate produce for use on the estate. Much later, the structure was used as a chicken shed with the openings being bricked up and later fell into a state of disrepair.

“As the structure is a listed building, I had extremely strict hurdles to overcome and eventually managed to convince the council that the building was better preserved being used as a residence than falling apart. Timber Windows played a big role in the process of gaining permissions by demonstrating the authenticity of the products I wanted to use,” Mr Laybourn explains.

The new sash windows had to match the style and formation of the glazing bars from the original windows, the frames of which were still present once the openings were revealed.

The façade of the building is dominated by the towering windows and door, the sashes standing at almost three metres high, and their appearance playing arguably the most important part of the overall look. Mr Laybourn explains his delight at their arrival during the lengthy project, “the day the windows went in was the best day of the whole project as it signalled the transition from a hollow barn to my future home.”

Finished in a soft shade of Cream, the door and windows also have 18mm astragal bars with the sashes hung on attractive brass chains and weights and are all manufactured in engineered European redwood. “We were amazed at how good they were. The products have been in place for over two years now, and haven’t weathered at all.”