Tibridge Farm, Tibridge Farm, Lewdown, Devon

Spanning over 3,000 sq ft, this remarkable four-bedroom house in Devon was reimagined by its former owner, Sir Kenneth Grange - one of 20th-century Britain’s best-known industrial designers. Its upside-down configuration carves out a series of spectacular, interconnected living spaces upstairs, united by exposed stone walls, oak joinery and a dramatic pitched roof. Grounds of around 37 acres emanate from the house and are a mix of gardens, pasture and woodland; there are also a series of characterful agrarian outbuildings that include Grange's former workshop/studio.

The Designer

Sir Kenneth Grange is among the 20th century’s best-known industrial designers. His user-centric work is celebrated for its breadth, from designs for Kenwood and Kodak to British Rail. He co-founded the design consultancy, Pentagram, in 1972, and was knighted in 2013.

Thought to have been built around 1900, Tibridge Farm was thoroughly reimagined by Grange in the 1990s, turning the stone barn into a spacious, bright and tactile home.

The House

Embedded into its site, Tibridge Farm is surrounded by a patchwork of mature trees. It is approached along a private, gravel-laid driveway, with space to park several cars.

The front door is set almost centrally in its façade and opens to a hallway with seagrass carpet underfoot. Immediately, the home’s predominant material palette of exposed stone and oak is introduced, and a sculptural spiral staircase beckons upstairs.

Bright, airy and with immersive views, the upper level is an exceptionally remarkable space. A dramatic pitched roof creates volume and has a series of exposed oak trusses and veneered ply-lined ceilings. Exposed brick walls and oak floorboards span the length of the room, adding continuity and texture. The middle section of the space, presently used as a sitting and dining area, is wonderfully versatile with its generous proportions.

Beyond is the kitchen, only gently delineated by bespoke units that provide plenty of storage. An opening ensures that lines of sight are unbroken and that the different ‘zones’ remain in dialogue with one another. Inside the kitchen is an oil-fired black Aga below a neat squared-tile splashback; other appliances include an electric oven/grill, LPG gas hob and integrated dishwasher. There is space for a second dining area here, and clever cut-outs ensure an even distribution of light and unobstructed views. A door at the far end opens to a corridor, from which a utility, WC and pantry are accessed.

At the opposite section of the upper level is a sitting room, partly open to the space before with an opening in the dividing stone wall. The finish here is much the same as the rest of the space: more oak is used to create plenty of shelves and a built-in desk area. Triple-aspect windows ensure an unfaltering connection with the outdoors.

Downstairs, a long corridor with plenty of storage space behind Japanese-style shoji doors connects to four double bedrooms. All are bright and serene, and have bespoke joinery and views of the grounds. Two share a smart Jack-and-Jill bathroom, while a third is served by an en suite shower room.

The largest bedroom is at the easterly end; it has a particularly generous bank of storage and a door to the grounds. It sits next to a brilliant modular Japanese bathroom designed by Grange for INAX and gifted to him. Finished in light-blue tiles, there is a luxurious bath, a walk-in shower and storage on either side.

A nexus of outbuildings can be found in the grounds, including a wonderful workshop/office. Grange’s studio has been preserved downstairs, while upstairs was previously used as his archive, though would now serve well as a home office.

Outdoor Space

Spanning some 37 acres, the grounds that surround Tibridge Farm are expansive and varied. A rolling backdrop creates a feel of total seclusion and remove.

Closest to the house are gardens, planted with a mix of shrubs, trees and herbaceous plants, and landscaped up to the streams that meander nearby. Beyond are swathes of pasture, along with woodland - a section of which was planted around a decade ago.

There is also a fruit and vegetable garden greenhouse, where the current owner has grown blackcurrants, gooseberries and strawberries. In addition to the workshop/office, there is an original farmhouse, re-roofed under current ownership with re-development potential, and a separate modern barn.

The Area

Lewdown is a peaceful hamlet in the heart of west Devon, just a 16-minute drive from the wonderful Dartmoor National Park – an area characterised by its majestic uplands and tors, dramatic moors and secret wooded valleys. Lydford Gorge and its stunning waterfall sits on the edge of the moors, and Cotehele in the Tamar Valley is an atmospheric Tudor house with a fascinating history. The captivating coastal town of Bude is a 50-minute drive away, while Plymouth lies to the south.

There are some excellent dining and drinking options within easy driving distance of the house, including the Fox and Grapes pub, The Arundel Arms and the Alex Polizzi owned Hotel Endsleigh in the most delightful setting. For essentials, the Strawberry Fields Farm Shop stocks a range of homemade and seasonal products. There are a number of larger supermarkets nearby, including an M&S Foodhall in Launceston and a Waitrose in Okehampton.

The cities of Exeter and Plymouth are both around a 45-minute drive, offering an extensive array of amenities.

The Lew Trenchard Co E Primary School is a six-minute drive from the house, and there are a number of other schools in the area, including the Mary Tavy and Brentor Community Primary School and Launceston College secondary school. Independent options include Mount Kelly Prep and Mount Kelly College in nearby Tavistock, a 20-minute drive.

Exeter St David’s rail station is approximately a 50-minute drive from the house and provides services to London in approximately two hours and 15 minutes.

Council Tax Band: A