Channel island Barn Renovation

Project Overview

Set in the heart of Guernsey’s picturesque Talbot Valley, this project is a remarkable transformation of a long-neglected barn into a beautiful, light-filled home. The project was led by the property’s owner, Peter Falla, an architect and director at PF&A Architects, who has spent over 30 years designing exceptional residential properties across the Channel Islands.

When Peter discovered the derelict barn—once part of a cluster of historic buildings that had been abandoned for more than two decades—he immediately saw the potential. “I drove past it one day and thought, there’s something special here,” he recalls. The property, originally owned by a husband-and-wife team who sold flowers across Guernsey by bicycle in the late 1500s, offered an opportunity to breathe new life into a forgotten part of the valley.

The Vision

Unlike most of the surrounding buildings, The barn was not protected, allowing Peter the freedom to reimagine the space as his own home. “This project was deeply personal,” he explains. “I wanted it to embody the quality, sustainability, and attention to detail I’ve pursued throughout my career.”

To achieve this, Peter assembled a trusted team of craftspeople and suppliers—professionals he had worked with for over 20 years. “For me, it’s about selecting the best from experience,” he says. “I only work with people who care as much about the result as I do.”

Partnership with Mumford & Wood

When it came to windows and doors, Peter turned to a long-standing partner: Mumford & Wood. “In terms of the windows, I go a long way back with Mumford & Wood,” he says. “For me, it’s about how they perform in Guernsey’s climate and their input towards technical design. I don’t think I’ve come across any windows in my lifetime as an architect of equal quality.”

Over the past 15 years, Peter has specified Mumford & Wood products for nearly all of his residential projects. “They perform at the highest level—you get what you pay for. And just as importantly, the people are nice. At the core of Mumford & Wood, the team is thorough, focused on detail, and a pleasure to work with.”

The Design Challenge

A major design challenge was the scale and prominence of the glazing. Large window openings form a significant part of the external envelope, demanding exceptional thermal performance and precision manufacturing. “The size of the windows was a huge challenge,” Peter notes. “It needed to be bespoke—and Mumford & Wood can accommodate any size and shape.”

For this project, Mumford & Wood designed and manufactured 11 doors and 10 casement windows, all crafted in sustainably sourced timber—a material choice that aligned perfectly with Peter’s sustainability goals. Many of the doors feature tongue-and-groove panels, while the striking front elevation includes large windows measuring 2.6m wide by 2.2m high, detailed with 22mm ovolo glazing bars.

Each piece was completed with polished chrome ironmongery, and finished externally in Juniper Ash 115 (Little Greene) with an internal colour match to Linen Wash 33 (Little Greene), ensuring a timeless and cohesive aesthetic.

The Result

The completed barn stands as a testament to craftsmanship, collaboration, and care for detail—an authentic blend of old and new. The large glazed openings flood the interior with natural light while maintaining exceptional energy performance, demonstrating that heritage character and modern standards can coexist beautifully.

For Peter, the result is deeply personal: