A disused church hall on the Helmingham Hall Estate in Suffolk has been transformed into a holiday retreat with the help of Dulux Heritage.
With its rich history and unique setting, the former church hall offered the perfect canvas for a refurbishment that blended heritage character with contemporary design.
Claire Barton, Partner at Haverstock Architectural Practice, along with her husband and two friends, transformed a disused church hall on the Helmingham Hall Estate in Suffolk into something truly special with the help of Dulux Heritage, which bring timeless colours together with modern performance.
The project, which began in December 2023 and was completed in January 2025, involved the full refurbishment of the former St Mary’s Church Hall into a luxurious holiday retreat which is now open for holiday lets.
To complement the building’s character and guarantee a durable, easy-to-maintain finish, Barton and her team used Dulux Heritage Eggshell and Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt throughout the building.
As well as a timeless look, these paints delivered on performance, which was a vital factor for this rental property due to the frequency of guest changeovers. The paints’ durability will keep walls and woodwork protected against everyday wear, while the washable finish will make upkeep simple so the property can continue looking its best.
Having previously used Dulux Heritage across numerous projects, Barton explained: “The coverage is fantastic, often needing only two coats. The paint has a beautiful, luxurious texture and a natural look thanks to its specially blended clays. And being water-based, we knew it was a more sustainable choice too.
“For a holiday rental, it’s also essential to be confident we can return years later and still find the exact same colour for touch-ups.”
As well as performance benefits, Dulux Heritage also offered a palette of versatile colour options that were perfectly suited to this project. The timeless colours helped to highlight the building’s original architectural features, while providing the flexibility needed to create a calm, contemporary space that felt both elegant and welcoming.
For example, in the bedrooms and circulation areas, Dulux Heritage Chiltern White was chosen. This ultra-pale, warm grey colour is a favourite of Barton’s, and she has used it in many projects in the past. Inspired by the sweeping chalk hills of Chiltern Valley, Chiltern White brings out the best in any room with its smoky, understated elegance.
In the utility and cloakroom, Dulux Heritage Quartz Grey was used. The mid-tone mushroom offered chic simplicity that paired well with the crisp whites used elsewhere in the property, while also providing a subtle depth to complement the building’s original character.
Finally, the dramatic double height living area was transformed into an open plan space for cooking, dining and relaxing. Here, Dulux Heritage Eggshell was used on the wooden beams and Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt was applied on the walls. To create a colour-drenched effect to unify the space and amplify its architectural features, Dulux Soft Maplewood 3 (10YY/53/132) was selected throughout. The colour celebrated the room’s original character and introduced a warm, modern tone that enhanced its natural light.
The careful combination of historic character, modern design and a timeless, durable finish has created a property that is as practical as it is beautiful, ready to welcome guests for years to come.
