KENT BARN
It took time and patience before Natasha Miller was able to transform her family home into the tranquil retreat she had longed for, with a gentle scheme and sensitive improvements
N aboutatasha Miller admits, ‘My home really is my sanctuary,’ and it’s not difficult to see why. This mellow Kentish barn, nestled in the North Downs, is a calm, cohesive, light-filled space which feels effortlessly stylish. But there’s more to it than that. Natasha has a degenerative eye condition which means her sight is severely impaired. ‘I have no peripheral vision, which can make everyday life a bit challenging,’ she explains. ‘So coming home to a place where I always feel relaxed and safe has become increasingly important.’
The barn has been home for Natasha, husband Alan and their three children since 2007, but it’s only in recent years that she has been able to indulge her passion for interiors. ‘When we moved here from a Victorian house in Ashford all those years ago, it ticked everything on our wishlist. We wanted a characterful home in the country which was big enough for all of us, and close to good schools and amenities. This was perfect for us.’
The couple were, however, resigned to a long wait before they could make substantial changes. ‘Busy family life ate into both our time and our budget,’ she recalls. ‘We simply lived with everything we already had, and it wasn’t until our brood began to fly the nest that we had the opportunity to reimagine it all.’
The long wait gave her time to fine-tune her design ideas. ‘I knew exactly what I wanted – and luckily Alan agreed!’ she laughs. ‘We were also fortunate to receive a little inheritance money which helped enormously with the renovations.’
First to be tackled three years ago was the kitchen. ‘I wanted a timeless modern country design with plenty of storage, lots of light, and not least my much-loved Aga, which we’ve had for years. The kitchen was built by a local company, and it was so exciting finally to see everything I’d wanted in situ.
A little while on, there’s nothing it I’d change.’ Bifold doors provide a seamless link to the pretty courtyard outside. ‘The difference in the sense of light and space – and the link between outside and in – is incredible,’ says Natasha. ‘It was well worth the investment.’
To keep costs down, the couple took on a lot of the decorating tasks themselves. One of the biggest challenges, she says, was painting
