Blog Layout

Holiday and Leisure – The Farmyard Retreat

Alt Admin • Feb 03, 2016

"The whole process was fantastic. Calvin was extremely helpful in all aspects, especially after-sales..."

Gemma Snell

The Farmyard Retreat

The acronym ‘B & B’ is synonymous with a certain type of accommodation and hospitality; one might evoke an image involving acres of floral wall paper, musty curtains, lumpy beds and soggy toast. They may be cheap but they are not always quite so cheerful. Then The Farmyard Retreat was opened, the brainchild of the Snell family, which offers the bed and the breakfast but with the style and service of a five star hotel.

Gemma Snell and her family have been farming the Somerset countryside for five generations, in addition to rearing organic beef their farm is now also a luxury retreat.

The Farmyard is comprised from a collection of converted barns including stables and the old dairy, which is now Francis House. The Retreat was carefully designed by Gemma into a selection of tasteful and contemporary self contained holiday apartments.

The apartments offer privacy and seclusion for guests to relax in but it is in the clever design and use of space that the The Farmyard’s concept really excels.

Each apartment boasts a large entrance hall, which leads to the sitting room and a hidden compact kitchen, which in turn opens out onto the patio. Large picture windows allow natural light to flood in and the guests’ eyes to look out and explore views of the lake and the beautiful rolling hills beyond.

John Strand’s innovative products were selected by Gemma to compliment the modern design with Hideaway Kitchens from the Italian range. The kitchen neatly folds away to maximise all available space but still provides every facility you would expect to find in a much larger kitchen.

Director, Calvin Reeves, was on hand throughout the process to offer advice on utilising the space and ultimately ensure the kitchen met all the requirements of the project.

See more of the interior at The Farmyard retreat’s website.

By John Strand MK 08 Jan, 2024
John Strand Sofa Wall beds 1. Maximizing Living Areas: The most apparent advantage of a sofa wall bed is its ability to maximize living areas. During the day, the sofa serves as a relaxing seating arrangement, allowing you to make the most of your space. When night falls, seamlessly transform it into a comfortable bed, eliminating the need for separate pieces of furniture and optimizing your floor space. 2. Dual-Functionality in Compact Spaces: For those renting or living in smaller apartments or studio flats, the sofa wall bed is a revelation. It effortlessly combines two essential pieces of furniture into one, providing a seating area for daytime activities and a sleeping space at nighttime. This dual-functionality is a game-changer in compact living situations. 3. Effortless Transition: The mechanism behind sofa wall beds is designed for ease of use. Transitioning from a sofa to a bed, and vice versa, is a smooth and hassle-free process. This user-friendly feature ensures that you can transform your living space with minimal effort, making it an ideal solution for all age groups. 4. A Stylish Addition to Any Room: Sofa wall beds are not just about functionality; they also add a touch of style to your living space. Available in various designs, colors, and materials, these pieces can complement any decor style. The seamless integration of a sofa wall bed enhances the overall aesthetics of your room.
By John Strand 18 Sep, 2023
The benefits of a concealed and hidden kitchen.
By Donna Connolly 27 Feb, 2020
    Small Kitchen Design Layouts How to make kitchens work in a small space? Kitchen design, like many forms of design, relies on what have become traditional formulas and concepts.  These ‘design rules’ have been tried, tested and work a treat; such as the classic triangle of fridge, sink and hob within a 7 … Continued The post Small Kitchen Design Layouts appeared first on John Strand MK.
By Donna Connolly 19 Dec, 2019
    The diminishing size of homes, is a topic you often hear discussed but what truth is there in it?  Is it just a cliché and common misconception batted around, along with the lines of; “It wasn’t like that in my day”.  So are humans getting bigger (we are but that’s another story) or … Continued The post Making space in Studio apartments – A guide to open-plan, multi-functional apartment living appeared first on John Strand MK.
By Alt Admin 05 Dec, 2019
The objective was to create light filled, desirable apartments aimed at young professionals in a town centre location but the challenge was in the size. John Strand worked with property developers for a project of contemporary flats in Watford Hertfordshire.  The objective was to create light filled, desirable apartments aimed at young professionals in a … Continued The post Wall beds for studio apartments appeared first on John Strand MK.
By Alt Admin 14 Nov, 2019
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!The aim of Cabü by the Sea is to provide beautiful buildings for everyone.  An ambition successfully achieved with the Scandinavian inspired cabins offering a relaxing space within the wild and windswept surroundings of St. Mary’s Bay. CABU approached John Strand Kitchens for a development of architecturally … Continued The post Luxury Cabins by the Sea appeared first on John Strand MK.
By Alt Admin 05 Nov, 2019
Change of use from office space to stylish contemporary studio apartments with John Strand Contract kitchens.Harrow sits on the North West of London’s Metropolitan line. A short tube-ride into central London and a stone’s throw from the rolling countryside of the surrounding home counties. It’s a popular destination with first time buyers and therefore an … Continued The post Office to residential converstion in Harrow appeared first on John Strand MK.
By Alt Admin 24 Oct, 2019
Bespoke kitchens for a beautiful and grand refurbishmentThe majority of John Strand clients call looking for expert help, they need a kitchen but don’t have space for one!  On the opposite end of that scale is Barrington Hall, lack of space was definitely not a concern for this project. A magnificent Grade II listed Georgian … Continued The post Kitchens in a Grand Location appeared first on John Strand MK.
By Donna Connolly 08 Oct, 2019
    It’s small and mighty.  John Strand has been supplying compact kitchens for over 30 years and here is the history of how it all began, and why, three decades on, the one-metre-wide kitchen units are still sold across the country. Constructed of steel with a powder coated white finish; it houses a sink, … Continued The post A Brief History of the John Strand Mini Kitchen appeared first on John Strand MK.
By Donna Connolly 19 Sep, 2019
    Empty Nesters – How to re-design your spare room and keep everyone happy The four walls that surround you have changed a lot over the last 18 years or so.  Pastel safari animals, Thomas the Tank Engine and more recently a selection of sporting flags and posters have all had their time and … Continued The post Empty Nesters – How to re-design your spare room and keep everyone happy appeared first on John Strand MK.
More Posts
Share by: