An impressive barn conversion property on the Isle of Wight has used high quality windows and doors from Black Millwork to achieve top energy efficiency ratings and an authentic finish.
Located in the town of Ryde, Lakefield Barn is a 2,500 square foot detached property sympathetically converted from a former stable block. Set in just over six acres and benefitting from its own private lake, the single storey property features four bedrooms, three bathrooms and stunning exposed vaulted ceilings throughout.
With a unique ‘U’ shape floor plan, the green oak framed building has kept much of its original character whilst also offering modern performance credentials for absolute comfort. Incorporating 38 windows and doors from Black Millwork, the property is extremely thermally efficient and uses renewable energy sources for its heating and electricity needs.
Chris Sandell, Co-Founder of Sandell Partnership and owner of the property, commented: “As a property developer I’ve had lots of opportunity to practice my homebuilding skills and I set out to use all of my knowledge in my own house. With any restoration project it’s important to retain as much of the character as possible but it is as equally important to ensure the building is fit for purpose in its new life. Black Millwork’s products were perfect for this as they offered both the traditional look and the modern performance I was after.
“When a specific style is required, choosing the right fenestration is absolutely paramount as its impact on the overall aesthetics – both indoor and outdoor – cannot be overestimated. Timber frames were a must for this property and I received a number of quotes for the windows and doors and found Black Millwork to be very good value, beating all other suppliers on price.
“Importantly, Black Millwork was not fazed by the logistics of delivering to an island site as many other suppliers are. I was particularly impressed by their willingness to attend the site on more than one occasion to make sure everything ran smoothly and was equally satisfied when the units arrived on time and well protected.”
Installed at the property were 27 oak Tilt/Turn and fixed unfinished windows that are designed to age and silver along with the rest of the property’s oak frame. Their traditional style is accompanied by impressive thermal efficiency performance, achieving a U-value of 1.4 W/m2K.
In addition, 11 oak French doors were also supplied unfinished to match the windows and building frame. Benefitting from a comprehensive 10-year warranty, the doors achieve a U-value of 1.5 W/m2K.
Chris continued: “Working on high-end bespoke properties it’s crucial to find suppliers that are willing to be flexible and will partner with you during a build. Black Millwork was very accommodating when it came to producing the non-standard sized windows and its support team were always available to me.
“This is the second time I’ve used Black Millwork and I’m pleased to say that I will definitely be using them again in the future. As a local property development company, our reputation is extremely important to us and it’s only by using the best materials that we can maintain our customers’ trust. Black Millwork have certainly delivered on this front and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to any other developer.”
