4 minute read
Wellbeing barn
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Sally Rundell has lived in her converted barn on the outskirts of Earl Soham for over twenty-five years. Set within three acres of wooded gardens, this wonderful family home has played host to countless children’s parties, celebrations and even a wedding, but is now being reinvented as a retreat for wellbeing.
As I pull into the shingle drive, I spot Sally enjoying the morning sun in the cart lodge to the side of the barn, which has been converted into a comfortable seating area with wicker sofas, pretty floral cushions and strings of fairy lights. Like for so many of us, living spaces have been redefined over the last 12 months, however there is something rather lovely about having coffee al fresco on a fresh spring day. We take a tour of the garden and Sally points out an orchard of apple, pear and quince trees planted when the children were small and a wooden boardwalk leading to a circular deck that was used for her son’s wedding last year. Purposefully positioned benches sit in the shade of weeping willows or overlooking the pond, and a newly planted woodland of a thousand saplings invites investigation.
Turning back towards the barn you are greeted by an attractive oak-framed garden room, reflections of nodding daffodils glinting in the bi-folding doors that open out to a south-facing patio. Sally and Chris, her husband, only added this new extension in 2019, but already it has become central to life here.
A beautifully calm space that has been decorated with a subtle palette of creams and golds, it is their favourite place to sit and enjoy the view or for days spent working from home. We step up and into the light-filled entrance hall, where an enormous story-telling chair is a reminder of Sally’s forty years in education, and then through another set of glass doors that were once the original entrance to the barn.
There is a quite a contrast from the open plan feel of the garden room to the interior of this 450 year old barn, but it is wonderfully atmospheric, with a huge vaulted ceiling and magnificent fireplace that is home to a wood-burning stove. On the main wall, sections of the original barn doors make for dramatic artwork and a central wrought iron chandelier, forged at Easton Farm Park, adds a touch of medieval grandeur. Staircases rise on both sides, and to the left, a quarter-turn allows you to stand looking out across the dining hall as if to address a congregation, and Sally admits to ‘the pulpit’ being used theatrically at various parties over the years. This takes you to what were originally the boys’ bedrooms, but these have recently been knocked through to create a lovely double guest room with private bathroom. On the other side, stairs lead to a galleried landing, perfect for childhood games of hideand-seek, and off here is the charmingly elegant master bedroom.
There is a very welcoming feel to the barn, and I love the raspberry sitting room, the light bouncing off its walls to cast a rosy glow over the comfy looking sofas. Some
of the doors are inlaid with unusual stained-glass panels, the colours being complemented by the striking contemporary artwork, and small mullion windows add interest and detail. As we explore, Sally reminisces, and it is obvious that this has been an incredibly happy home that has effortlessly adapted to the needs of the family over the years. We complete our circuit by returning to the cart lodge via a sheltered courtyard garden to the rear. Inspired by the gardens at Sissinghurst, the planting follows a white theme and being tucked away just off the kitchen, it offers a peaceful place to enjoy breakfast before the start of a busy day.
With so much to offer, Sally, who is an experienced wellbeing and leadership coach, has decided to use her home as the hub for a series of retreat days. Called ‘Rise up Restart’’ these days will allow guests an opportunity to stand back from their lives in order to find a way forward, and she will be offering both corporate wellbeing days, supporting teams as we move out of the pandemic, and women only days, focusing on common themes such as searching for a better life/work balance and planning for retirement as a fulfilling new stage of life. Sally is a generous host, and her beautiful home makes for the perfect backdrop, offering space for private reflection as well as a nurturing environment where you can learn the skills needed to take back control. It has been an uplifting morning and I leave feeling both inspired and empowered by our time spent chatting.
