Uncover the hidden beauty of an 18th-century flint barn in East Sussex, reimagined by a designer

In the utility room, cabinets have been painted in Bird's Nest – a forgiving and practical shade.

In a quiet corner in the open-plan living area, a rustic table with an Anglepoise lamp serves as a desk.

Upstairs, the library is north-facing. 'It has the least light and the smallest windows, so there was no point painting it in a pale shade,' says Cassandra. Here she's used Clay Slip – a brown with green undertones.

The large, sparingly furnished spaces contrast well with the assemblages of found objects, including dried seed heads. 'I like beautiful things, but they don't always have to come from a shop,' Cassandra explains.

The upstairs landing area acts as a gallery space for natural artworks such as the dried flower installation by Cassandra. 'It's lovely to have nature inside,' she says.

The landing looks into a serene guest bedroom and next door, husband Ed's office. The largely neutral decor is enlivened with dark wood furniture and feminine touches like vases of dried flowers.

The wall's in Ed's office is painted in pinky Boro. 'This colour has been perfect,' Cassandra says, 'although we've allowed the garden to become a little wild, so there's now too much green reflecting back in – it's time for a change.'

The walls of the main bedroom are painted in Cotta – a biscuity shade inspired by bisque-fired pottery. The bed and bedside stools are also by Atelier Ellis, while the pink bed linen is covered in a vintage, hand-dyed sunshine-yellow throw.