The Barn Reborn: A Fresh Start for Village Ceramics & Crafts

The new workspace — calm, bright, and practical. A far cry from the cold, stone-floored barn we started with.

Seven weeks after that first cold morning of boxing, sweeping, and second-guessing how many cups of tea it would take to stay motivated, the barn is finally finished — and what a transformation it’s been. What was once a chilly, dust-collecting workspace has become a bright, practical, and beautifully organised studio that feels more like a creative sanctuary than a workshop.

Gone are the draughty stone walls and the echoing ceiling that swallowed every bit of warmth. In their place: smooth, insulated walls, fresh white paint, and a false ceiling that holds the heat exactly where it should be. The new floor — light, level, and far kinder to cold feet — makes the biggest difference of all. It’s clean, comfortable, and easy to keep tidy.

Our kilns, side by side at last — the dependable Nabertherm N40E and the larger Kilncare flatbed, both on easy-move stands.

The layout has been completely rethought, with separate zones for every part of the process. The main work area now features a central table — four individual, oak-effect tables pushed together — surrounded by sturdy blue chairs. It’s the perfect space for glazing sessions, design work, or small informal classes. A mounted screen on the wall brings a touch of modern practicality too, ready for reference images, workshop videos, or the occasional how-to guide over a cup of coffee.

At one end of the room, the kilns now sit proudly side by side — the trusty Nabertherm N40E and the larger blue Kilncare flatbed glass kiln — both safely on wheeled stands for easy access. No more crouching in draughty corners or trailing cables across the floor. Nearby, a long run of white cabinets provides generous storage for tools, clay, and glazes, with room still to expand as new materials arrive. Above them, a clean expanse of wall awaits shelving, artwork, or maybe even a few framed photos from the journey so far.

The smaller windowed alcove brings a lovely touch of light and warmth, and through it, there’s now a comfortable view to the green outside — a constant reminder that even though this is a working studio, it’s also a peaceful creative retreat.

And of course, the shelves are already filling up again. Rows of glazes, pigments, frits, and oxides stand neatly in their places — the familiar chaos of colour returning at last. The slab roller is back on the countertop, surrounded by brushes, moulds, and small tubs of clay odds and ends, ready for the next firing schedule. Everything finally has a home, and every home has a purpose.

Colour returns to the studio — jars of glazes and glass powders lined neatly above the slab roller and workbench.

What’s most rewarding, though, is how it feels to step inside. There’s a quiet hum of possibility — that sense that all the effort, planning, and dust was worth it. The heaters haven’t even been switched on yet, and already it feels warmer, calmer, and more efficient. It’s amazing what insulation and a bit of vision can do.

Looking back at the photos from February — the boxes stacked high, the cold stone floor, the half-packed shelves — it’s almost hard to believe it’s the same space. But it is, and it’s ours again. The transformation marks not just the end of a refurbishment, but the start of a new chapter for Village Ceramics & Crafts: one where creativity can flow freely, without the constant battle against the elements.

There are still little finishing touches to come — wall shelving, a few more tools to unpack, maybe even a splash of colour somewhere down the line — but the hard part is done. The barn has officially been reborn, and we couldn’t be happier.