Wednesday, November 4

Imagine..... Living Here


Fancy living in a church? This old church in Kyloe, Northumberland, England was purchased by a couple who invested lots of money to keep the inside as it was. They restored instead of renovated - 3 times less money.The couple did their best to recreate the inside like a regular home....



Every time an old church went up for sale around here, I fantasized about buying it and turning it into a home. I would LOVE to live in an old church like this one!


The architecture is so inspiring, and I love the Gothic arches and beautiful woodwork.


Imagine waking up to the sunlight streaming through stained glass quatrefoils!


Or bathing here?

What do you think? Could you live here?

24 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

I could live there -- it's utterly fabulous!!!! I always wanted one of the old schoolhouses that are out on country roads in Ohio. I think that would be a fun project,

vicki Bennett said...

It's so beautiful! But I'd have to check out the neighbors. Never know who you're going to get in North Umberland.

Anonymous said...

The pictures are great, would love to live in one myself. Lots of people in England have bought old churchs and restored then to live in. I think its the decline in church going poeple, and the old building cost a lot to keep in good repair.

PS it's (Northumberland) all one word, it's a very beautiful area.

Susan. England.

joared said...

I'd love to visit friends there in their home, but being much too practical in my thinking in this instance, I think, how much would it cost to heat that high open-ceilinged structure?

LL Cool Joe said...

As beautiful as it is, no I wouldn't want to live in a church. We actually live in a large old house, and it's beginning to depress me. I love modern stuff. Metal, glass and white walls, and although in areas of the house we've managed to go more contemporary, most of it just is too old fashioned to do anything but stay with the original feel of the house.

MadPriest said...

Northumberland

MadPriest
(Northumberland)

G in Berlin said...

Could never live there- I would find the concept of the religion too horrifying. I could live in an old college Gothic style school though.

Pat said...

We looked at one when we were house hunting 20 plus years ago but it was too near the road.
I guess you know how to spell Northumberland now:)

Arkansas Patti said...

I would be torn by enjoying the peaceful air to feeling obligated to being a better person all the time. That could be wearing.

kenju said...

I have edited the post to correct the misspellings. Thanks for the corrections. It came to me in an email and I had no idea it was wrong.

sonia a. mascaro said...

It's beautiful, but no I could never live in a church.

Shiny Rod said...

That would be a "To die for" to live in an old church. I was thinking that they should change the scenes in the stained glass in the bathroom to when Jesus was walking on water and when he was being baptized by John the baptist. That would inspire any bathroom.

cyclopseven said...

The splendor of the past whispers words of peace. Beautiful pictures. Pray that you may buy one soon.

Buzzardbilly said...

That is so gorgeous! I cannot imagine what their heating bill is like. North Umbria is way up there and, like the Moors, the wind will cut right through ya. Beautiful all the way around though, and to live in such a magnificent piece of history would be grand.

betty said...

They made a lovely home out of the church, but I don't think I could live there. As a "backslidin' Methodist", I would live in constant fear that I would be struck by lightning.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

It is beautiful - but do not think I could there. I have remodeled several older homes and through the years thoughts of a schoolhouse. Barn on my farm - I could visualize it turned into a wonderful dwelling.

Darlene said...

I always dreamed of living in a castle with Gothic architecture but I
think the religious stained glass windows, beautiful thought they are, would not fit in with my decor.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Well, ir is quite BEAUTIFUL, but I'm not sure I could live there...Visit? YES! Like going to a special Hotel or B&B for a week. It isn't that I don't don't appreciate the Beauty of it..I just need a warmer space for living! But they sure did a stunning job, didn't they?

Gilly said...

Oh yes, yes! I would absolutely love it!

And that bathroom - I'd never come out of it!

But it will be a ****** to heat!

Cuidado said...

It's one of my fantasies as well. This was well done!

Granny Annie said...

Nope, no living in churches for me. Now making old barns into homes is an appealing thing. Old train stations make nice dwellings. But our little church in Kansas needed a replacement window for a very small stained glass one and the cost was to be $32,000.00. It was replaced with regular glass.

Alan G said...

This is just absolutely fabulous. I would love living there. I once thought about buying an old schoolhouse and doing the same thing but it would have been way, way more than I could afford.

On a lighter note however, given the landscaping in the front yard, you wouldn't have to worry about decorating for Halloween! :)

Grannymar said...

I would never survive in a place like that. You would need a heavenly salary or three to heat it,

awareness said...

I could live there in a minute! I've always had the same thought as you Judy..... would love to restore and move in. There are a few old churches in this province which people have purchased and turned them into homes too.