Light-Filled Barn-Style Oak Frame Self Build in Essex

Anthony spent 16 months working through the designs and the complex planning application, commissioning surveys and reports for bats, drainage and traffic. Although the house is pretty much on the same footprint as one of the dilapidated outbuildings it replaced, the planners weren’t concerned with its size. “They were more focused on the overall volume of the scheme, which couldn’t exceed that of the old buildings,” Anthony explains. “This gave us scope to make some of the properties larger or smaller than those they replaced.”

The 269m² barn-style oak frame house has been designed to look like a converted traditional Essex barn that would have been used for cattle or storing hay

Planning approval for the change of use from a livery and equestrian centre to residential was given in May 2018. However, the discharge of conditions (approval for smaller details) for landscaping and service routes continued through into March 2021.

Since the design objective was for each new property to look like converted original agricultural buildings, the construction method and external materials were equally important. “I settled on masonry for the farmhouse and cottages, but we didn’t want to use a standard timber frame for the barns as it wouldn’t give justice to the designs,” explains Anthony. “That’s when we started talking to oak frame companies. Although it wasn’t the most cost-effective route, it helped that we already owned the land. Now we’re really pleased we built with oak as the character in our home is amazing.”

The Oak Frame Design 

Anthony approached three oak frame companies he found online, requesting a quote that included structural drawings for Building Regs. He also discussed bedroom sizes and ensuites. They each came back with proposals for how they would turn the approved barn designs into buildable oak frame properties.

“We were looking at who could provide the best design  and service, but I wasn’t impressed with the rep from one company or the manufacturing process of another,” says Anthony. “Welsh Oak Frame stood out. They were clear about why posts and beams needed to go where they’d placed them and were flexible about making changes; some others  seemed to want the design their way or no way.”

The double-width opening is framed in oak and opens into a large hallway with the cloakroom immediately on the left. A separate cosy lounge is also on this side, while heading right takes you through to an open living room that leads onto the spacious kitchen-diner

Anthony worked with the Welsh Oak Frame design team on their home and the workshop at the same time. Although he’d never built an oak frame house before, he understood the construction principles, allowing him to see where improvements could be made. “I thought about the furniture layout in every room – like where the bed head would be so a post or window wasn’t in the wrong position,” he says. “Welsh Oak worked to the millimetre to make sure things looked symmetrical and all the rooms feel like they’re in the right place.”

Light grey Italian porcelain tiles and a pale blue design features connect the open-plan spaces throughout downstairs

The process also helped Anthony and Alison see they could make a feature of an oak frame post in their ensuite bathroom. “We realised if we moved the room over a bit we could have the bath on one side of the post and the rest of the fittings on the other,” Anthony explains. “Welsh Oak were quite willing to make the tweaks, ensuring the window was still central and the wall panels lined up. Once the oak frame design was agreed, there was no changing it.”

Getting it Built

Anthony’s company, Goodey Construction, were well underway with the farmyard development when they began the groundworks for the couple’s house in early 2020. Welsh Oak Frame’s team were already on site erecting the frame for the workshop and, in March, they moved onto the couple’s home – but disaster struck.

“The oak framers weren’t far from finishing when the news broke that the country was going into lockdown,” says Anthony. “The place they were staying at told them they had to leave, so they quickly returned to Wales. It meant we could do no more work on the new house until they returned.”

Anthony and Alison were impressed with Welsh Oak Frame’s suggestion to make the curved cruck truss a feature in the main bedroom. Full height doors with a Juliet balcony look out across the fields

Fortunately, the frame was structurally sound with the walls up but no exterior panels, and while the first floor was in, the roof wasn’t finished. Anthony and the team protected the frame from the elements and put the remaining materials and the tools in storage. Once Anthony knew the rules for working during the pandemic, he managed to keep the rest of the development going. “We were constructing all five houses together and luckily they were at different stages,” he says. “I was allowed to split the trades out so they could carry on working. It was quite the balancing act as we needed to sell the properties to pay off our debts and move into the barn.”

In September, the oak framers returned and spent a further three weeks finishing the frame. The build team picked up the reins while Anthony struggled to get hold of materials at times due to shortages, resorting to bulk buying and storing everything on site.

The oak frame is kept minimal, with only key pieces left exposed, complemented by a neutral white decor. The large window is south-facing and the room can get hot in summer so the couple installed a fan

The house is wrapped in structural insulated panels (SIPs) and sealed to be airtight, while a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system sends continuous fresh air around the home. “Quite a bit of work goes into the construction to hide the utilities in the voids, but you can’t see any of this in the finish,” says Anthony. “We like that the barns look old but they’re fit for modern living and comfortable, thanks to an air source heat pump and underfloor heating.”

Externally, the roof is fitted with traditional plain clay roof tiles, sourced from France, and the walls are clad in featheredge oak weatherboarding, to look like a traditional local barn. “I could have used softwood and stained the boards black but we wanted a high level finish with oak inside and out,” says Anthony. “We felt all the houses deserved standout features and good quality fittings so we didn’t skimp on the kitchens and bathrooms either.”

The kitchen-diner benefits from glazing on two sides with views across the equestrian centre. The Shaker-style cupboards are from Wren Kitchens and painted in Marshmallow and China Blue. The Brazilian quartzsite worktop is 30mm thick, from The Only Way Is Granite

Anthony’s sons Kieran, an electrician, and Daniel, a plasterer, both worked on the project with him – the carpenters and plumbers were also father and son teams. When technical queries arose, Anthony spoke to Welsh Oak Frame. “They were very helpful throughout the build and frequently sent over details on the best way to go about things. I established a good rapport with the people in the office, which was very valuable” he says. “Even for minor queries, they were happy to give me their time. They were great to work with.”

Anthony and Alison moved into their new home in February 2022 and spent the next couple of years doing the landscaping and planting in their garden. They still run the livery yard, but on a much smaller scale, and enjoy living on site close to the horses.

“Our home suits the countryside area beautifully, the enclave of farmhouses look like they’ve always been here and have created a great landmark,” says Anthony. “We love that our brand new home is instantly recognisable as a classic barn. At first glance, some might even think it’s been converted rather than built from new. If Alison and I were to undertake another self build project, we’d definitely choose an oak frame, it’s a really pleasant structure to live in.”