Mayfly Cottage by Stiff + Trevillion, UK

Living areas flow out onto a stone terrace

An abundance of glass brings in plenty of natural light into the interior

The spacious ground floor unites the kitchen, dining, living and TV areas in a bright, open space

The dining room

Wooden beams are used throughout the house, echoing local architecture

The bright and airy kitchen

The double-height core of the house

The downstairs bathroom

Bricks and wood bring contrasting pattern into the house

The spacious entrance hall

A wooden staircase leads to the top level with its master bedroom, en suite bathroom and dressing area, plus three additional bedrooms and bathrooms

This double bedroom looks out onto the pool below

The sink area in the master bathroom

Sloped ceilings give the building a distinctly barn-like feel

A bath with a view

A picture window enlivens a corridor on the first floor

One of the ensuite bathrooms

Though the architects designed all internal details, down to the joinery, the owners were heavily involved in every stage. Having worked with Stiff + Trevillion on two previous properties in Putney and Kensington, they had a solid relationship with the architects and remained a key part of the process

Sticking to local techniques, environmentally friendly features and natural materials like handmade bricks and roof tiles, charred timber cladding and green oak for the frame, Stiff + Trevillion cleverly translated the barn's vernacular typology to a space fit for 21st-century living