Converting A Barn Into A Cool Pad

Russell Hall and Shaun Clarkson's barn conversion is outrageously opulent - a million miles away from its back-to-nature neighbours.

Designing The Ultimate Party House

When you think of barn conversions in the middle of the countryside, you tend to picture sensitive restorations with earthy, natural interiors. However, at 'Cliff Barns', named after the character in the legendary soap, Dallas, friends Russell Hall, a set designer, and Shaun Clarkson, an interior designer, have created an impressively irreverent ranch-style interior - with some quirky twists on the theme. Designed as the ultimate party house, sleeping up to 18, they use it at times like Christmas, and hire it out the rest of the year.

The boys set out to design the sort of place they would want to stay in. 'Comfort and luxury were top of the list, without going either the over-stuffed chintz route or the scarily serious designer direction' says Russell, who lives nearby with his wife, giftware designer Petra Boase, and their children, Florence and Billy.

The Kitchen

With its industrial-looking appliances and masses of pots and pans, the kitchen is well equipped to deal with large parties.

Melding Eclectic Styles

He describes their deluxe barn as 'a sort of Mexican hacienda and a dash of ski chalet with a few opulent chandeliers thrown in.' In fact, it is a fabulous fusion of disparate elements that, in their hands, work wonderfully well together. Moose heads combine with 1970s psychedelia and elegant wall sconces; kitsch oversized lamps sit on polished marble tables and French antique mirrors adorn seriously deluxe bathrooms with the latest high-tech fittings. Maybe the secret of its success is that it is both inspiring and accessible. People feel excitingly overwhelmed as they walk through the main door into the reception hall with a dining table that can seat 20.