With soaring ceilings, contemporary décor and the most beautiful views across the Kentish countryside, Bayham Hall’s restoration has allowed the building’s original features to shine through whilst providing an enviably spacious family home for owners Jaime and Justin Cooke. 

TEST In the sitting room, Jaime has kept the colour palette to neutral greys and browns with white detailing. The double aspect windows take centre stage, with beautiful views out over the Bayham gardens

In the sitting room, Jaime has kept the colour palette to neutral greys and browns with white detailing. The double aspect windows take centre stage, with beautiful views out over the Bayham gardens

TEST When Jaime and Justin moved their family down from London they also brought much of their art collection with them: ‘Pony Pin Up’ photographs by Julian Wolkenstein hang on the back wall behind a spacious – and specially designed – dining table

When Jaime and Justin moved their family down from London they also brought much of their art collection with them: ‘Pony Pin Up’ photographs by Julian Wolkenstein hang on the back wall behind a spacious – and specially designed – dining table

TEST The kitchen had once been the library. Jaime stripped back the tooled leather wallpaper and pulled down 1970s partitions and stud walls to bring back the sense of scale from the original floor plan. The room’s original features include a wonderful ornate plaster ceiling, huge windows and original shutters and an impressive veined marble fireplace

The former library's original features include a wonderful ornate plaster ceiling, huge windows and original shutters and an impressive veined marble fireplace

TEST The kitchen had once been the library. Jaime stripped back the tooled leather wallpaper and pulled down 1970s partitions and stud walls to bring back the sense of scale from the original floor plan. The room’s original features include a wonderful ornate plaster ceiling, huge windows and original shutters and an impressive veined marble fireplace

The kitchen had once been the library. Jaime stripped back the tooled leather wallpaper and pulled down 1970s partitions and stud walls to bring back the sense of scale from the original floor plan

TEST Jaime’s colour palette of neutral whites and greys has allowed Bayham Hall’s original features to shine through

Jaime’s colour palette of neutral whites and greys has allowed Bayham Hall’s original features to shine through

TEST Jaime’s colour palette of neutral whites and greys has allowed Bayham Hall’s original features to shine through

Jaime’s colour palette of neutral whites and greys has allowed Bayham Hall’s original features to shine through

TEST Kent artist Sandy Dooley’s vibrant paintings hang on the walls of the sitting room

Kent artist Sandy Dooley’s vibrant paintings hang on the walls of the sitting room

TEST One of the most impressive spaces in the house is the double height inner hallway around which a carved wooden staircase floats

One of the most impressive spaces in the house is the double height inner hallway around which a carved wooden staircase floats

TEST One of the most impressive spaces in the house is the double height inner hallway around which a carved wooden staircase floats

One of the most impressive spaces in the house is the double height inner hallway around which a carved wooden staircase floats

TEST An enormous antler chandelier hangs down from the ceiling, whilst vibrant artworks and soft furnishing contrast with the white walls that bounce light from the hall’s huge windows into every nook Right: A cathedral-like stained glass window dapples the hallway with softly coloured light

An enormous antler chandelier hangs down from the ceiling, whilst vibrant artworks and soft furnishing contrast with the white walls that bounce light from the hall’s huge windows into every nook

TEST An enormous antler chandelier hangs down from the ceiling, whilst vibrant artworks and soft furnishing contrast with the white walls that bounce light from the hall’s huge windows into every nook Right: A cathedral-like stained glass window dapples the hallway with softly coloured light

A cathedral-like stained glass window dapples the hallway with softly coloured light

TEST An enormous antler chandelier hangs down from the ceiling, whilst vibrant artworks and soft furnishing contrast with the white walls that bounce light from the hall’s huge windows into every nook Right: A cathedral-like stained glass window dapples the hallway with softly coloured light

Another view of the impressive staircase

TEST The upper landing acts like a minstrels’ gallery overlooking the hall below. Jaime and Justin added glass barriers to make the space more family-friendly Huge gilded chandeliers accentuate the soaring ceilings. One of the joys of living in Bayham Hall is that there is such as great sense of space that wonderful vistas appear at every turn

The upper landing acts like a minstrels’ gallery overlooking the hall below. Jaime and Justin added glass barriers to make the space more family-friendly. Huge gilded chandeliers accentuate the soaring ceilings

TEST The upper landing acts like a minstrels’ gallery overlooking the hall below. Jaime and Justin added glass barriers to make the space more family-friendly Huge gilded chandeliers accentuate the soaring ceilings. One of the joys of living in Bayham Hall is that there is such as great sense of space that wonderful vistas appear at every turn

One of the joys of living in Bayham Hall is that there is such as great sense of space that wonderful vistas appear at every turn

TEST Jaime has taken a love of travel and high-end hotels to create a master bedroom and guest room suites that you would happily move into and never leave

Jaime has taken a love of travel and high-end hotels to create a master bedroom and guest room suites that you would happily move into and never leave

TEST The couple’s luxurious bedroom suites feature chic four-poster beds and sumptuously soft carpet

The couple’s luxurious bedroom suites feature chic four-poster beds and sumptuously soft carpet

TEST The couple’s luxurious bedroom suites feature chic four-poster beds and sumptuously soft carpet

The couple’s luxurious bedroom suites feature chic four-poster beds and sumptuously soft carpet

TEST Like the rest of the house, the neutral tones used to decorate the bedrooms are the perfect backdrop for Jaime and Justin’s eclectic collection of furniture and artworks

Like the rest of the house, the neutral tones used to decorate the bedrooms are the perfect backdrop for Jaime and Justin’s eclectic collection of furniture and artworks

TEST Like the rest of the house, the neutral tones used to decorate the bedrooms are the perfect backdrop for Jaime and Justin’s eclectic collection of furniture and artworks

Like the rest of the house, the neutral tones used to decorate the bedrooms are the perfect backdrop for Jaime and Justin’s eclectic collection of furniture and artworks

TEST The stunning landscape that surrounds Bayham Hall can be enjoyed at every turn in the house and garden

The stunning landscape that surrounds Bayham Hall can be enjoyed at every turn in the house and garden

TEST The stunning landscape that surrounds Bayham Hall can be enjoyed at every turn in the house and garden

Jaime and Justin have managed to pull a house, designed for a different age entirely, into the modern world and make it work

TEST The stunning landscape that surrounds Bayham Hall can be enjoyed at every turn in the house and garden

“I never thought I would leave London. I had moved to the UK from Canada to be in London, and so it was a bit of a shock to be honest. But now it all seems so perfect and I couldn’t wish for a better place to raise my family.”

TEST The stunning landscape that surrounds Bayham Hall can be enjoyed at every turn in the house and garden

Bayham Hall enjoys wonderful views

Building Connections

After nearly a decade of planning, Dominic and Eve were finally given permission to convert a pair of derelict barns, linking them together to create one very beautiful dwelling Words: Jo Arnell Photographs: David Merewether The story arc of an...

Change it up

Neil and Sharon Maidment’s reconfigured family home is the result of a very successful partnership with OPEN architecture, who opened their eyes to a new layout they never imagined was possible Words: Fiona Patrick Photographs: David Merewether The green modular...

Cut to Fit

Deborah Harrison downsized to a three bedroom house, which she renovated and reconfigured, reinstating the original Victorian features and editing family heirlooms to suit her new home and lifestyle “As William Morris says, ‘Everything has to be beautiful or useful,’”...