Northumberland, England

St. Nicholas Church House

Decaying 18th-century church converted to a single-family home.

Few people look up from doing the dishes and see a stained glass window, but Ian Bottomley and Sally Onions have grown accustomed to these kinds of details. In 2002, the couple bought the decaying St. Nicholas Church, and spent the next six years restoring it, without losing the beautiful decor that remained from the 18th century.

Originally constructed in 1792, the small church in Kyloe, Northumberland was in desperate need of a makeover. After being deconsecrated in the 1980s, the church sat abandoned and cycled through a few owners that didn’t have the same drive to restore the space. Despite serious hurdles, Bottomley and Onions set about creating a dream house out of the massive, but dilapidated church.

Although their renovation included electricity, underfloor heating and state-of-the art appliances, they managed to preserve most of the old church charm. Huge vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows appear in most of the rooms, and a baptismal font also remains. While the interior of the church was restored, the exterior was set in stone quite literally, and a cemetery in the front yard has remained throughout the renovation.

For the last few years, the St. Nicholas Church House has been on the market for £695,000, and the owners can be contacted for a showing.