Written by Carly Freestone | 8th January 2019
Farmhouse is one of those words that conjures up all sorts of comforting images. Fresh eggs and baby lambs. Exposed beams and flagstone floors. A rustic country kitchen with a solid wood table large enough to seat an extended family for Sunday roasts cooked in the Aga.
At Michael Graham our country properties for sale include a generous helping of English country farmhouses, so what is it that makes them so appealing?
England is famous for its farmhouses and many are still working farms, but a sizeable number of these comfortable old houses have taken on new life as rambling family homes. With a typically spacious kitchen and meandering layout, the informality of the farmhouse is perfect for today’s lifestyle. Adding to the appeal is our growing interest in self-sufficiency and eco-friendly living. As we start a new year, many of us are determined to embrace a healthier lifestyle for 2019, and that includes making buying decisions that help protect the planet. Even if we’re not going as far as Veganuary, eating more plant-based foods is a step in the right direction on both counts. A farmhouse with even a relatively small piece of land opens up the possibility of growing your own fruit and vegetables and keeping chickens, perhaps also bees. As well as reconnecting with the source of our food, we can avoid buying food wrapped in plastic too, a clear win-win result.
Another positive about buying a farmhouse is that they often come complete with barns and outbuildings, so if farming isn’t your thing they offer myriad opportunities for conversion. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of becoming a potter. Make 2019 the year you realise your dream and convert a barn into a studio with a potter’s wheel. Or if that’s a pipe dream too far, what about opening a shop or a tea room? Maybe combine both ideas and sell artisan wares in a tea room, something which is always a popular and lucrative venture in rural communities. Stables and cowsheds are also prime for conversion into holiday cottages. And if you want the land to pay its way, you could also think about campsites, yurts and shepherd’s huts.
Many of the English country farmhouses on the Michael Graham website have been renovated so that old-fashioned charm sits happily alongside contemporary style. Open fireplaces and exposed wall and ceiling beams complement uber-sleek modern kitchens and spa influenced bathrooms that wouldn’t be out of place in a country house hotel. One of the joys of owning a farmhouse is that any style goes. Earthy, rustic and simple works just as well as high end modern décor. Have a look at the farmhouses on our website for an eclectic mix of some of the finest examples on the market right now.