'It's very important to retain the sense of history in these buildings', says architect Donald Jones, whose farmyard complex near Llangadog www.cennencottages.co.uk features in the programme.

'I wanted to create contemporary open spaces, but at the same time I knew it was essential to keep the original architectural features so that people recognize this as a typical Carmarthenshire farmstead in fifty years time.'

Donald was lucky to have a fantastic courtyard arrangement to work with, and he carefully decided which of the stone sheds to convert, and which to leave as they always were. Often a building won't suit conversion to a domestic dwelling, and it is important that we recognize when to leave a building be. Materials such as tin (corrugated iron) sheets have been retained to emphasise the agricultural roots of the buildings.

One of the sheds had no natural light, so rather than going down the usual route of adding roof lights and small windows which would have given a 'cottagey' effect, Donald took the brave decision to remove a structurally weak gable end, and replace it entirely with glass. This modern intrusion not only allows fantastic views across the Black Mountains, but means that the building is still entirely original on three out of four sides.

'I wanted to get away from the current trend to cut up these wonderful large barns into a series of tiny boxes', says Donald, who has converted the grain barn into a majestic dining hall that seats twenty.