Originally published by the Guardian, Saturday 22 May 2010

Only rarely do houses from big brochures make it into this column – for the simple reason that I can’t be bothered to flick through pages of dark, out of focus pictures (or, worse, in-focus orange pine and nasty loose covers). Belle Grove barns, however, are in one of those fat brochures – so perhaps I ought to change my tune – and they have been on my to-do list for so long that I can no longer remember who to thank for bringing them to my attention in the first place.

No shortage of converted barns in East Anglia but Belle Grove’s practically leap off the page. No fitted pine – but five barns which look as though they have been kitted out after an extensive shopping trip to Rajasthan.

M and I are headed north-east to a location between Halesworth and Bungay. Just before a railway bridge, we find the sign for Belle Grove farm, and are confronted by a house, nearing completion by the look of things, which could be straight from a Tolkein story; its metal dragon sculpted on a roof of several undulating tiers. This must belong to owners Jo Jordan and Nick Fisher who, according to the website, used to run one of those Africa-by-truck holiday companies.

An earth track hemmed with oriental lanterns skirts the house, passing a pond and a giant bleached wooden gateway. “A suggestion of entering a different domain,” says M. Which is just what we are about to do. A tall wooden Balinese figure guards the rusted iron gateway to the Coach House. That’s us. Pushing open the door of our wood and tile barn – there – the transition from reality to fairytale has begun.

I know – you’re thinking how over the “ethnic look” you are – but inside our two-bedroom farm outbuilding we find an ingenious marriage of stainless steel and glass with rich pigments and sumptuous textiles in an open-plan ground-floor room which comprises kitchen – clearly hand-built from reclaimed Indian wooden doors – dining area and sitting room. There’s a wood-burning stove in a fireplace created by a massive wooden lintel resting on bricks.

“It feels as though we are much further away than Suffolk,” says M. This is the understatement of the year. We mount a narrow staircase and push open ornate carved and painted doors into first a cobalt blue bedroom then a red one. Sensor-control Aqualisa showers operate over deep baths, and we have a selection of British-made eco toiletries. This is an eco-build and the ponds have been created to encourage wildlife.

There is a kind of magic here – wrought by a very exacting hand. Appliances are the best – from Panasonic flatscreen to Bose sound system. Wardrobes contain hot water bottles and a fan. Welcome “pack” food includes chocolate, grapes, ripe mangoes.

Owner Jo drops by to check everything is OK. Could we see some other barns? They are all simply fantastic and yes, she did ship container-loads over from Bali and India. “Passion Pit of the year,” says M next morning, emerging from exquisite bed linen, wrapped in a robe, to put coffee on downstairs. How we wish we were here with all our friends, having an exotic holiday just off the A12.

Lower Common
Westhall
Suffolk Premier Cottages

or contact Belle Grove direct 01986 873124, belle-grove.com.

The Coach House sleeps four, from £780 per week. Short breaks are available in low season. Pet friendly, use of beach hut at Southwold on a first-come-first-served basis.