AFTER selling their farm along with their home on it, Loretta and Keith Blackburn didn’t allow themselves to stay idle for long.

They took on a fresh project, transforming the disused barn in Eller Riggs Brow near Ulverston into their new home.

It took three years to turn it into a stunning family home with a self-contained and detached cottage as a finishing touch. They have lived very happily there, running their own business and enjoying the results of all their hard work.

Although it was no small job, Loretta said they could always see its potential and envisage how they wanted it to look.

Having come from a house which dated back to 1640 with low ceilings and slate floors, they were happy to go with a completely different look with the barn which lent itself to how they wanted it to end up.

Along the way the couple had to have new electrics installed, as well as new plumbing and a roof.

The property, Eller Riggs House and Cottage is a substantial detached barn conversion in a spectacular location, a bit more than a mile from Ulverston, with five acres of land, an acre of woodland and open views.

There is also a detached self contained cottage, double garage and landscaped gardens.

Inside there is a hall, lounge, inner hall, cloaks/WC, study utility room, kitchen/diner, Aga, feature stairs, four double bedrooms (all en-suite), a ground floor studio and workshop.

The cottage has a lounge, kitchen, bedroom, mezzanine and a shower room.

Describing the conversion, Loretta said: “This was our fifth renovation and we had a vision from the start of how we wanted it to look.

“We went for minimalist and although we could easily have given it six bedrooms we went for four so they are big doubles and all en-suite.

“Inside the house is a separate unit which could make an independent living space for an elderly relative or teenager.

“It is a really good party house and we have had a lot of wonderful gatherings.”

The rooms are beautifully designed but they have loved using the kitchen/dining area and the sitting room. There is also a study where the couple have his and her desks, but it could easily be turned into a fifth bedroom.

Inside the main house there is also a gym/cloak room which the couple do use “sometimes”.

It is impossible to overlook the stunning lounge in the house with its full-length double glazed barn window and full double glazed French doors to the back patio and garden.

The room is flooded with natural light, but Loretta said the whole house is extremely light.

On the first floor landing four doors lead to the bedrooms, there is a shelved linen cupboard and access to the insulated loft.

Loretta added: “The detached cottage adds to the property’s versatility and we used it as a business premises when we had our own company.

“It makes a great holiday let and even has onsite parking.”

The cottage is a light and airy place with a door leading directly into the kitchen/diner area and is open plan to the lounge.

It is graced with an eye-catching spindle staircase which leads to the mezzanine with a useful eaves store cupboard.

The bedroom has a built-in wardrobe and under floor heating. The couple did the gardens themselves with plenty of advice from the local garden centre.

Loretta said: “There wasn’t a bulb in the ground but now it is well established with borders, beds and a rockery.”

The couple rent out the five acres of land to farmers, while the acre of woodland has been left untouched.

There are open fields to the back and the house has superb views at the front with Cartmel Peninsula and the Lakeland Fells clearly visible. With the generous grounds surrounded by countryside the house is extremely private.

This beautiful home is much loved and has been a wonderful home for the couple’s grown-up children to visit, but now they want to downsize and travel more.

The house - Eller Riggs house and cottage - is on the market with Corrie and Co Real Estate Agents for £875,000, tel: 01229 525333.