We had a lovely stay at Corner Barn and it is a beautiful property. However, given the premium price point, we did feel there were a few areas that could be improved to enhance the overall experience.
Due to the location of the barn on the owner’s property, there is a sense of being overlooked at times. The living area features large glass windows and sliding doors, which are lovely for light, but can leave you feeling quite exposed. While the front windows have muslin drapes for privacy, we felt similar lightweight coverings in the lounge area would be beneficial. At present, the choice is between heavy curtains, which block out the light, or having them open and facing directly onto the owner’s garage and storage area, where there is frequent activity.
The property also became quite warm during our stay, so having a fan available would have been very helpful. In addition, the fridge makes a fairly loud noise intermittently, and we found we needed to close the lounge door at night to avoid disturbance.
There were a few maintenance issues that would benefit from attention. The lighting in the main living area is not functioning properly, as the bulbs appear incompatible with the dimmer, causing flickering unless used at full brightness. One of the lamps was also not working. Some of the games provided were missing pieces and therefore unusable. The sofas are quite worn and would benefit from replacement, as the cushions are flat and uncomfortable.
We also noticed a drain odour coming from the kitchen sink area, particularly when running the tap, which was unpleasant. The outdoor space could do with a general tidy and refresh — for such a lovely setting, particularly in summer, a clean and well-presented outdoor dining area would make a big difference. We did need to clean the table and chairs thoroughly before being able to use them.
We appreciate this is a detailed list, but we feel these improvements would really complement what is otherwise a fantastic property and help make the stay feel truly special. If these changes were made we would not hesitate in recommending this property to others.