THERE is something about barn conversions.

When they are done well they can be really quite breathtaking. And this week we feature just such a fine example of well done work. Well, actually, make that two examples… Manor Farm Barn and The Granary form part of Manor Farm, an exciting venture close to completion in Huntington which, as well as the conversions, has three newly-built cottages to offer.

We’ll get to the cottages in a moment, but first let’s tell you why we were so impressed with conversions of a former cow barn and granary.

It was a fine sunny morning when we paid a visit and the development was shimmering under a warm blue sky.

Which helped, as you could immediately see just how well the developers have redesigned the properties to make the most of all the available light.

It is apparent from the moment you step past the detached garage, through the electric gates and down a path to the lawn and patio terrace at the back of Manor Farm Barn.

This garden area is a positive suntrap, and there are several pairs of French doors and deep windows soaking up that sun. It is easy to imagine getting home from work, throwing open those doors and letting the light stream down while you enjoy a cooling drink (or two) in the peace and quiet.

But let’s not get too poetic before we have seen what is inside.

We’ve come in back-to-front, as it were (the real front door on the other side of the house is an impressively handsome solid timber affair set in a mellow brick facade), but never mind.

We step into a hallway and through to a ‘to-die-for’ kitchen, all high white gloss with contrasting black granite work surfaces. This flows naturally into a family/dining room, another super spot with lots of light and space. Across the hallway (bedecked with lots of storage cupboards and a cloakroom) there is a delightful lounge/sitting room. Tumbling up the stairs you find a spacious landing off which there are three bedrooms (the master with en-suite) and a bathroom.

All right, now let’s return to the poetic – all of these rooms are quite brilliant (in all senses of the word) creating a wonderful overall sense of space and style. There are lots of luxury additions, from solid wood internal doors to the oak staircase to limestone tiling with underfloor heating.

And there are character touches aplenty, too, with original beams and trusses having been reinforced and polished into new life, blending beautifully with a contemporary presentation.

The styling is no accident as Eddie Ruddock, technical director of Energytek Yorkshire, the company behind this excellent project, explained. “We wanted to be respectful to the original buildings and their history while creating a very contemporary style of home with lots of big spaces and plenty of light.”

Bravo, we say – and there is more than one reason to congratulate Energytek because prior to them arriving on the site these two outbuildings, dating back to the 1850s, had been a derelict eyesore for something like 50 years.

Now, with the external façades refurbished and glowing, having been given a new lease of life, they are a considerable improvement to the local area.

The tour of the finished product in the shape of Manor Farm Barn was enough to suggest that its next door neighbour, The Granary, is likely to be every bit as handsomely presented. This, too, is a three-bedroomed home with plenty of room to romp in upstairs and down.

Both of these properties are to be offered at £440,000.

And now, before we sign off, we should tell you about the three new-build cottages on the development. Cleverly designed and built to very much fit into the local environment, they have very slightly different layouts but in essence offer a large living room to the front and a kitchen/diner to the back (opening onto a rear garden) and three bedrooms and a bathroom to the first floor. Again, handsomely presented and finished they also have gardens to the front and pleasant views over an open paddock. With prices starting at just £245,000 they are definitely worth a look.

Agents Stephensons are holding an open weekend to highlight the Manor Farm development, Huntington, this Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30.