EXPERIENCE HOME STORY Low clouds nestle against the lush green hills that separate Wales from England. This area of the world, the Brecon Beacons National Park, is characterised by vast moorlands, picturesque valleys and stunning waterfalls, and is often regarded as one of the UK’s most enticing regions. In its midst is a small farmstead. The traditional Welsh cottage from the 17th century is home to Finn and Clare Beales and their children Harlan and Seren – and has been owned by the family for decades. The Beales share the large plot with a whole array of animals: horses, sheep, chickens, guinea pigs, honey bees and their dog Otto. As a successful photographer, Finn Beales has a busy work diary. Not only does he travel around the world for shoots but he also directs film projects and has already published two books about photography. “My job requires a lot of creative energy – and that can sometimes be stressful”, he says. This makes it all the more important for him to be able to relax at home and recharge his batteries. “Comfort, security and peace and quiet – that’s what home is about for me.” Speaking of home, Beales grew up in the Welsh countryside and after several years in the hustle and bustle of Brighton and London, he and his wife decided to return to there, in part due to 66 BORA MAGAZINE
Far left: Finn Beales picks his home-grown vegetables. In addition to tomatoes, he and his family also grow courgettes, aubergines, carrots and beans. Left: The BORA Professional 3.0 extracts the steam almost silently while cooking. Below: The Beales cook fresh vegetables on the Tepan stainless steel grill almost every single day: “Cooking is suddenly such a visual experience. Our guests love it!” Right: The Beales family spends a lot of time in the garden, where they’ve created themselves a little piece of paradise. planning a family. “We wanted our children to grow up in the countryside. In a place where you feel safe to leave your door open”, says Beales. Clare’s grandfather bought the cottage as a holiday home in the 1960s before passing it on to his son, who in turn sold it to Clare and Finn. “It was pretty run down when we moved in over 15 years ago”, recalls Beales. “We’ve had it re-roofed and are in the process of replacing the windows... it’s a never-ending story.” Beales laughs, as despite all the work, the old farmhouse has something wonderful to offer: its history. Joiners have carved their names or initials into the wooden beams, some of which are over 400 years old. “It reminds me just how many people were here before us and how many will come after us too”, explains Beales. The dark, cosy rooms in the original part of the house invite you to retreat to their warmth, especially in winter, and watch as storms roll in through the valley. In 2020, Finn and Clare decided to create more space and light. “We wanted a contemporary extension, but not something shiny and modern as we didn’t want to destroy the traditional cottage’s beauty. The new-build section had to respect the existing one.” To achieve the desired result, the couple selected perfectly imperfect materials: bare plaster walls, sealed with beeswax rather than paint. Knotted oak. Uneven concrete floors. Welsh slate and brushed brass fittings. These materials develop a patina over time – an important design feature for Beales. Even from the outset, it was clear that the kitchen should be the heart of the extension. BORA MAGAZINE 67
