Welcome to Big Barn Little Barn

What Have I Done?

Risking Everything on Faith alone

I’ve done something bold. Maybe reckless. Maybe brilliant. Time will tell.

My name is Nigel and i convinced Sally, my wife, that this was a good idea. Sally agreed. What could possibly go wrong..?

So I’ve bought not one house, not two flats but two farmhouses, six stables, three barns, and a field (or two), and all the tangled history that comes with old rural property. On paper, it looks like an opportunity. In reality, it feels like I’ve strapped myself to a rocket with no idea if it will soar into the heavens or explode on the launchpad.

Our Vision

The numbers are terrifying. Before even lifting a hammer or laying a brick, the finance and professional fees alone are pushing £250,000. Planning consultants, architects, lawyers, surveys—it feels like money is burning faster than I can blink. And that’s before I even know if the council will grant the all-important planning permission.

And that’s the big unknown.
Will people object? Almost certainly. Neighbours, local councillors, heritage officers—someone will have an opinion. The question is whether my vision for these old farmhouses will be seen as sympathetic and worthwhile, or dismissed as overambitious and disruptive.

How long will it take? Nobody really knows. A planning application can be six months, a year, two years. Each delay means more interest, more fees, more sleepless nights.

And then there’s my investors. Good people who’ve trusted me with their money. They’re backing not just a project but my ability to deliver. Can I repay them? I believe I can. I have to believe I can. But belief doesn’t pay bills—sales do. Until then, that weight sits on my shoulders every single day.

Is it stressful? Beyond words.
There are moments when I feel exhilarated, full of fire, unstoppable. And then there are moments when I stare at the paperwork and think, What have I done? I’ve risked everything. My reputation, my finances, my future.

Can anyone else see my vision? That’s the hardest part. In my mind’s eye, I can already see these farmhouses restored, barns alive with new purpose, stables transformed into something beautiful. I see life returning to forgotten buildings. But when I share that with others, I see doubt in their eyes. They see risk. I see possibility.

This is what it means to take a leap: to walk out on a wire with no safety net, not knowing if the other side is within reach.

Two Farmhouses, Six Stables, Three Barns - One Risk

“What Have I Done?”

• Buying two farmhouses with barns & stables.

• The risks - fees, investors, bankruptcy?!

• Early fear and excitement.

• Can anyone see your vision?

The Big Barn Little Barn Belief

Could there be a way to do something that would leave me with a Big Barn and a Little Barn to create an amazing dream home

Dream v Reality

So here I am—risking everything on a dream of two old barns. What could possibly go wrong?! Pretty much everything but I’d rather risk everything chasing a vision than spend my life playing it safe and wondering what if?

The Crazy Idea

Find an enormous site with loads of buildings, dream of what might be, offer to buy it...all without any money to do it!

So many ducks to get in a row...

Wow! If you think you know what is involved, think again! If you think herding cats is difficult, try this...

...i never fully appreciated how many moving parts there are, the scale of what is required AND how long it takes OR how much it costs!

Imagination Unleashed

Let your imagination run wild!

Manifest your dream!

Help! What am I doing?

Join me as we try to make the dream a reality. After three and a half years, I still don't know if I can do it.

Budget Friendly

Wouldn't that be lovely!

When it comes to costs and time then before you create a budget, read this!

Keep in Touch

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