Have you bought a farmhouse or are you looking for one? In this article, we'll tell you five things you should consider when renovating a country home to make it stylish and save a lot of money. First of all, don't throw anything away. The best thing about farmhouses is their rustic essence, so you should rescue all the original features and materials you can like beams or walls. Also, insulate the house well. Use elements such as inserts to keep your house warm so you don't have to spend so much heating. One last tip: let the natural light shine in.
Beams: check their condition and make them a focal point
In a rustic house, beams are king. Check them when buying a country home and protect them with sealants, varnishes, etc. You can paint them afterwards. If you paint them white, the space will seem larger because it will contrast with other rustic elements. The roof is another element that tends to suffer and deteriorate greatly. If it's in poor condition, it will cause leaks and damp, which could make for uncomfortable living. You must also check the walls' condition to decide whether they need reinforcement.
Install wooden windows
Compared to aluminium or PVC windows, wooden windows are the best option for farmhouse renovations. Why? Fundamentally, because they are very insulating from a thermal and acoustic point of view. What's more, wood is a sustainable, renewable and natural material. But there are more reasons. One of them is that wooden windows do not need a thermal break because their transmittance is lower than that of PVC or aluminium. Any disadvantages? There are some but they're not serious. You do have to take care of them more than other window types but it pays off because they look beautiful in rustic environments. Use VOC-free wood protectants to keep them tip-top.
Install a fireplace insert
If you have a fireplace in your townhouse, we recommend installing an insert. Firstly, they're inexpensive and you'll make much more use of the heat from the fireplace and firewood or pellets: a fuel in high demand due to its high calorific value. If you're living room is smaller than 30 m2, don't think twice and install an insert because you won't need anything else to heat the room. You'll save on heating, something that also makes them an efficient and environmentally friendly option.
Keep the original features, such as stone walls or clay floors
Imagine you've fallen for the terracotta floor in the house, but, unfortunately, some of the tiles are broken. Don't worry! Remember what we told you at the beginning of this article – don't throw anything away! Position the best quality tiles on a modern polished concrete floor to give it some personality. The same thing goes for stone walls – they're always worth recovering.
Favour open spaces and enjoy as much natural light as possible
Just like many city homes, it's also a trend for farmhouses to have open-plan, interconnected spaces. It's very common in country houses for the living room, dining room and lounge to be separate rooms facing the main façade. If this is the case for your house, we recommend joining the spaces to have a large day area and, of course, opening them to the garden to have the best views and make the most of natural light.
