There were trees growing in what is now the living room, and no roof on the kitchen, but it was love at first sight for the owner of this quality barn conversion.

"I fell in love with it before it was even built, when it was still the old farm building," she said. "I just liked the feel of it, it had a lovely atmosphere."

That leap of faith has paid off as the home in Little Clifton, converted about six years ago by Aspatria company Roland Hill Ltd, is now a stunning property with original features sitting happily alongside a contemporary reconfiguration.

It is in a small, select development of four properties, set in an attractive courtyard and presented in excellent condition with open views from the back garden. One of the archways in it has a date of 1852.

Approached through a castellated archway, the house has a solid wood front door leading into the hallway with Karndean oak flooring, a storage cupboard and doors to the lounge and dining room.

"The living room has a big arch window and stone fireplace which we had made to our design," the owner said. "We put in a log burner and it’s very cosy. That’s the thing with these barn conversions, in summer they are cool but in winter I think the stone retains the heat so it’s nice both times of the year."

The living room is a big space at 22ft by 17ft. A door leads from here to the dining room where there are wide French doors to the garden. Also from the lounge is access to a rear hallway with Karndean flooring, a cloakroom and an arched solid wood door to the garden.

The dining kitchen is a lovely room with three original feature arched windows, an extensive range of wall and floor units, breakfast area, integral appliances and loft access.

"It's a big open-plan kitchen with a breakfast bar," the owner said. "My kitchen and the kitchen next door were once one big room and there was a big wheel on the floor where the horse used to traipse round.

"Something went up into what’s my living room which is where the machines would be for threshing the corn or whatever it was, I have old pictures of it all.

"I probably spend most time in the kitchen - in the morning it has the sun. The whole property is very light as there are windows everywhere."

Upstairs a landing has an exposed beam, heritage roof light and storage cupboard with shelving. There are two double bedrooms, the master with exposed beams and Velux roof lights, twin double fitted wardrobes and en-suite shower room, the other with a double fitted wardrobe and en-suite bathroom with shower cubicle.

"Because we were in at the very beginning, we had the house done to our own design," said the owner. "We did intend that what is the dining room could be a bedroom when we got older and what is the downstairs toilet would be a wet room as there is pipework there.

"With the property being on the level at the front, someone with mobility issues could move in and complete that conversion."

Parking is taken care of with a huge garage, formerly the cow byre, a parking space in front of the house and designated parking space in the driveway.

The front garden is the shared block-paved courtyard and the back garden is also low maintenance with views over fields and with glimpses of the Lorton Fells.

"The patio is a real sun trap, it's lovely," the owner concluded. "I will very much miss living here but plan to downsize."

Clifton Green, Little Clifton, is for sale at £249,500 from Smeatons Estate Agents.