A once-derelict farmhouse and barn near Ashburton has been restored to become a peaceful paradise, writes Natalie Millar-Partridge
Turning into the picturesque village of Landscove, I am unaware of the peaceful paradise that awaits me. On walking into my barn conversion for the night, I am greeted by the warm and woody scent of camphor.
A beautiful four-poster bed lies beyond a glass and wrought iron stable door where to the side is a large soaking tub, contrasted against the original stone wall. Above is a vast space where exposed beams are angular and skylights are perfectly positioned. Under floor heating has been installed throughout and the paired-back wall extends to an open plan lounge and kitchen. The space is both dramatic and welcoming, cleverly combining past and present, not so much built for comfort, as sheer luxury.
The rooms in the manor house and additional barn conversions follow suit, each with their own contemporary-luxe style, juxtaposed with original features, breathing a unique quality into the former working farm. ANRAN, formerly a derelict farm house and barn, has been fully restored and its once dank and musty interiors are now fresh and inviting with a touch of the exotic.
Mike and Edwin, the British-Singaporean owners of ANRAN, spent two years travelling extensively, looking for the perfect place to lay down their roots. Finding the right abode was always far more about the building and surrounding space than the location. On discovering Tidwell Farm, they knew they had stumbled across somewhere with the potential to be an extraordinary home.
To transform Tidwell into a ‘home’, alongside a retreat for people to stay, was the definitive plan. It was the couple’s creative vision that allowed them to see past the crumbling walls and after three years of painstakingly renovating the house and its adjacent buildings, it now stands, with dramatic structural impact and refreshing visionary design.
“We weren’t after a particular structure but we did want somewhere that had a dramatic presence, somewhere that would leave a lasting impression. We also knew we needed somewhere with lots of space as we love to entertain and eventually wanted to have our own produce,” Mike recollects.
Tidwell, originally a dairy farm, was closed for many years before it was given a new lease of life as ANRAN. Spend a few days in these delightful surrounds and you will discover a sense of absolute stillness and peace. The name ANRAN means just that – peace and tranquility in Mandarin, which is Edwin’s native language.
The pair, who have lived and travelled in Asia, Europe and the US, have introduced elements of the finest hotels they have stayed in, along with unique interiors. Every piece of furniture and artifact you see at ANRAN has been personally chosen, often with a story behind it, adding character and charm to the rooms.
Retaining many of the original features of the farm was important during the restoration process, as it is these facets that lay at the heart of the building.
This being one of the charms of a stay at ANRAN - along with powerful showers, wifi and flat screens, guests can expect to see some of the original brickwork surrounding drainpipes.
It’s this eclectic mix of past and present that makes ANRAN so inspiring.
With a love for food and entertaining, combined with their hospitality and design backgrounds, it was always of importance to the couple, that ANRAN should remain their home and very much a place to enliven, bringing large families and parties together to celebrate special occasions.
“Our ethos has always been to provide people with a beautiful space to enjoy, though never lose sight of the fact that it is our home.” Mike explains.
For further information on ANRAN, visit: anran.co.uk or call 01803 762828
How to get the ANRAN look
Mix raw and unfinished surfaces with highly polished materials to create clean, crisp lines.
Juxtapose the contemporary with the classic.
Invest in great lighting using spots to create pools of light and to highlight the features of the space and the objects d’art within it.
Expose the historical features of the building by removing plaster from walls and paint from the woodwork
