Digging into my family tree last year, I discovered that my great-grandfather was a cart and coachmaker by trade (from Westerham), so perhaps it is something in my blood that finds me utterly charmed by Tara’s conversion of a cartwheel workshop in the grounds of her Peasmarsh home. More likely, it is the wonderfully quirky and original use of space, as well as the perfectly appointed whimsical décor which draws both me and a solid stream of paying overnight visitors to the one-bedroomed hideaway.

Despite being in a state of disrepair when they bought it, Tara instantly saw potential in the space. “As soon as we looked at the property, we had a vision of what we could do with it,” Tara says. “We loved the heritage of it and we could see that it was a great space, so we wanted to keep it as rustic as we could and not make it too claustrophobic, with stereotypical walls losing the open plan feeling.”

As the owner of the lifestyle emporium Rising Star in Tenterden, Tara is no stranger to recognising promise in unusual places. The shop specialises in antique furniture, eclectic homeware (alongside fashion and jewellery) and reclaimed finds, and Tara had ample opportunity to apply her experience to the workshop (available to rent on Airbnb) and spent many months sourcing characterful pieces to furnish what was a completely run-down outbuilding only a few years ago. “We had to do everything,” says Tara. “It didn’t have electricity, it didn’t have facilities, it was just an open workshop carcass! The roof was good, but all the windows and doors needed to be changed. My other half is a builder so he did a lot of the building work himself, while I went on the hunt at antiques fairs, constantly finding things that I knew would work in there.”

Converting the workshop into a living space was not without its challenges, lying as it was within the curtilage of a Grade II listed building. “With any project, there are always difficulties,” says Tara. “Sourcing things at the right price and budgeting is one major factor. Obviously when you are doing something for a Grade II listed property it has to be done to a certain standard, and you have to go through the proper planning – from the paint colour to what you’re doing with the guttering.” However, finding a way to pass building control while maintaining the open-plan, industrial heritage was at the heart of Tara’s vision. The stairs proved to be a particular issue, as she felt strongly about keeping the field of vision clear and not breaking up the space, but the regulations clearly stated the requirement for balustrading, and that the spacing between the spindles had to be a certain width so that children couldn’t get their heads stuck between them.

Tara’s solution was to use traditional balustrading on one side, and floor-to-ceiling-beam copper pipes on the other. This ensured that the line of sight across the room was maintained and allowed her to incorporate the metal reminiscent of the building’s workshop days.
Looking around, there are little nods to the workspace’s original use all over the place, but they are subtle enough to be enjoyed as curios in their own right. From the old saws on the mantelpiece to the tricycle-style horse toy next to the sofa to the giant horseshoe-esque wreath above the kitchen sink, Tara manages to remember the past without the references being too overt.

Every area of usable space within the small (perfectly-formed) workshop has been carefully thought out, but never to the sacrifice of charm. In the kitchen, constructed out of bricks by Tara’s partner, the work surface makes use of an enchanting and original find. “We put old, reclaimed pottery boards – as in the boards that are used to dry pottery on – into the kitchen,” says Tara. “They were brought over from France and we put them on the top as the kitchen surfaces.” They also added an old, salvaged sink (from Symonds Salvage in Bethersden) and some little curtains underneath to disguise the washing machine and some storage space.

“We made it from the basics really, and just added from there,” says Tara, noting that there is something very appealing about maintaining a level of simplicity, but that certain touches can really elevate the experience. One such element is an old, folk art, utilitarian larder cupboard sitting alongside the kitchen surface that still has its original paintwork. “I was a bit reluctant to put it in there,” says Tara, “it’s one of my favourite finds. It’s a really beautiful, rustic, original piece that fits in the space perfectly.”

The bathroom adds another layer of innovation, as Tara has disguised the partition between the living room and the bathroom as a ‘building within a building’. She found an old, reclaimed ‘bar’ window which she added to the internal wall – this is opaque, but ‘looks’ into the bathroom from the kitchen. She has also used a piece of corrugated roofing to cover the internal pitch of the bathroom ceiling, and added a piece of fabric trim to soften the edging and make it marry with the indoor space.

“I wanted to make it look like an outdoor building within the building,” explains Tara. “When you’re in the kitchen you can see the window that goes into the bathroom, and I’ve used old, reclaimed lights so it looks like the outside of a building. We also made the sliding barn door leading into the bathroom out of scaffolding boards, which fits with the space and also has the quirkiness.” The creative décor extends into the bathroom itself, where a statue and a stained-glass window sit alongside a new shower and sink, and above the bath hangs an old cart-end, imported from France.

The upstairs area has been transformed from an old hay store, which used to be accessed by a ladder, into a cosy and intimate bedroom space. Tara decided to keep some of the exposed brick at the back of the room, not just for aesthetics, but also in a nod to the past. “The brick in the bedroom actually goes down to the log fire below which is where they used to forge the metal for the cart wheels. This is another example of maintaining the heritage of the building. I would have loved more exposed brick, but obviously we have to consider trying to keep the heat in as well.”

The bed, from French Depot in Hastings, successfully juxtaposes comfort with industrial aesthetics, using high quality linens for the bed alongside an old oil bottle lamp. The rest of the room is decorated simply with a few pictures, but Tara was keen to keep the space free of clutter. While Tara was passionate about being true to the building’s heritage, she was

equally clear that she did not want to forego luxury, and the copper bath in the bathroom adds a splash of decadence. Similarly, in the sitting room, the large, comfy sofa, the chaise longue and the draped curtain fabrics soften the workshop vibe, and the crossover between rustic and luxury makes for a uniquely romantic space.

Tara elaborates, “On the underside of the stairs, I put in a silk screen that we found at a fair in France. I wanted to add a little area of interest and also make it a bit less stark when you’re lying on the chaise longue.” Old scaffolding boards have been used as floorboards as well as skirting boards providing a bucolic warmth downstairs, while upstairs Tara has used carpet to create a more indulgent feel and to help differentiate the two spaces.

The result is a cosy, toasty warm hideaway in the winter and a beautiful, airy space in the summer. There is also a big garden and parking and the property is both dog friendly and private, making it an ideal spot to escape the stresses of everyday life. “It’s that mix of rustic and luxury that we wanted,” says Tara. “We want it to be a really special place for our guests, for a special occasion, or for a recharging, romantic hideaway.”

The whole renovation took about a year to complete, with Covid hitting just as they finished work. “It was really frustrating,” remembers Tara, “but when we were able to reopen, we got so many bookings, we were full up for months.” Many people who come and stay are repeat customers, and often they are so comfortable soaking in the copper bath or cosying by the fire that they don’t even leave the property. For those who do, the cart barn is just eight minutes down the road from Rye and Camber Sands, and a short walk from the nearest shop. Often those who stay overnight also visit Rising Star, which Tara opened when she was just 19. “It’s like a whole experience,” says Tara. “It’s a shopping lifestyle experience that I’m trying to offer that’s different from what other people are doing. I love meeting people and the whole buzz of them enjoying what I’m doing.”

Tara’s enthusiasm for her work is as evident as her hideaway is romantic. Are there any other projects in the pipeline? “I’m so passionate about what I do,” Tara says, “I’m always looking for new projects, so who knows what could be next.”