A Family's Journey to Transform a Georgian Gem
When the Sames family first laid eyes on their Georgian farmhouse overlooking the River Avon, they knew they'd found something special. Built in the late 1700s, the honey-coloured stone property sat on the riverbank with mature gardens and rolling views across the valley. But beneath its period charm lay a challenge: how to create a comfortable, practical home for five busy people without compromising the character that had drawn them here in the first place.
"We fell in love with the bones of the house," says Michelle Sames, the family matriarch. "But we needed it to work for modern life—proper bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen, good heating. The key was respecting what was already beautiful while making it genuinely liveable."
Layering History and Function
Rather than strip back to expose period features, the family chose to work with the existing spaces, layering contemporary comfort into historical rooms. The main reception rooms retained their original proportions and fireplaces, but a structural engineer's survey revealed that careful, sympathetic alterations were possible.
The kitchen became the heart of the redesign. By opening through into what had been a cramped Victorian scullery, the Sames created a generous, light-filled space that still reads as a series of connected rooms—honouring the original Georgian layout while meeting 21st-century expectations for family cooking and entertaining.
Upstairs, five bedrooms offered flexibility. Rather than converting one into an ensuite, the family invested in upgrading the original bathrooms with period-appropriate fixtures and modern plumbing, keeping the bedroom count intact for guests and growing teenagers.
Living with the River
One of the property's greatest assets—and responsibilities—is its riparian position on the River Avon. Riparian rights, the legal privileges that come with owning land adjacent to a watercourse, brought both opportunity and obligation.
"We had to understand what we could and couldn't do," explains Michelle. "We have the right to use the water, which is wonderful, but we also have duties to maintain the riverbank and not obstruct flow. It's a privilege that comes with stewardship."
The river has become central to family life. Summer mornings mean tea on the terrace overlooking the water; the children have learned to fish responsibly; and the constant presence of wildlife—kingfishers, herons, and otters—has deepened their connection to the property's natural rhythm.
The Result
One year on, the house had settled into its new life. The Sames' created something rare: a home that feels genuinely lived-in and contemporary while retaining the dignity and character that drew them here. The Georgian proportions and riverside setting remain the stars of the show, but now they're partnered with the kind of comfort and practicality that a modern family deserves.
"People sometimes assume you have to choose between period authenticity and modern comfort," reflects Michelle. "But we've found that if you listen to what the house is telling you—if you work with its bones rather than against them—you can have both. And having the river as part of that equation, the whole landscape of the property, it grounds everything. This isn't a museum piece. It's a home."
Article for Country Living Magazine 2000
