A creative centre
Map of The Brake
Jackson's Cabin
Jackson’s Cabin is a special self-catering haven. It is an ideal hideaway for couples, but a family of 2 adults and 2 children can be accommodated comfortably, sharing a large open plan room full of character and colour. The beautifully fitted and handcrafted cabin incorporates a double bed, sofa/bunk bed, and shower room.
A wood burner keeps the living area warm and cosy with steps down to the fully fitted kitchen-dining area. It is nestled into the corner of its own orchard garden, looking out onto a small pond, lawn and decking with barbecue area. There's also a lovely hot tub available for guests to use at their leisure.To find out more and book one of our cabins follow the link below.
Jake's Place
Jake’s Place is a quirky wooden hideaway for 4 adjoining The Brake with stunning views over the Devon valleys to the sea beyond. It is part of the creative Kary homestead, annexed to the house, and sharing the land with Jackson’s Cabin and our workshops. Approached by its own private path, it is set in an enclosed garden shaped around a 40 year old oak tree.
There is plenty of room for kids to play and a raised bank with a bench from which to chill out and take in the view. A large deck adjoins the kitchen and allows for relaxed outside meals when the weather permits. Jake's place also has full use of the purpose built Sauna. To find out more and book one of our cabins follow the link below.
The Workshop
The workshop at The Brake is a fully equipped purpose built teaching space with lots of natural light. Built by Phil, Nick and Nick 16 years ago it is a 1000sq ft building heated by waste sawdust and the burning joy of making. There is a 600sq ft hand-tool shop which accommodates 7 students and a 400sq ft machine shop for the preparation of material. All tools are supplied and are of high quality.
There is a student kitchen in the workshop, and on all longer courses there will be the opportunity for making your own pizzas in the wood fired oven. There are facilities for all aspects of woodwork including, carving, turning, green woodwork, steam bending, laminating, and all aspects of joinery. All tools are supplied, but I will encourage each participant to gradually collect their own. Click below to Explore our Furniture Making Courses lead by Nick Kary.
The Studio
Dolly’s studio and workspace allow for her own private space to create in, while accommodating a kitchen, bathroom, hallway and chill out area. We had a lot of fun with our friends Mel and Stu using a variety of materials including timber, rubber, recycled glass, corrugated iron, hemp-lime plaster, homemade oak laths etc. It is wacky in places and very lovely. It has had a long and varied history in the story of The Brake, having been the garage when we arrived. It has been a music room, ping pong venue, and general teenage hang out zone, but in the last few years it has truly found its roll as the Studio for the Creative Being Workshops.
The Bakehouse
The Bakehouse is more of a sculpture than a building. A joint passion for baking sourdough bread lead us to dream of one day building a cob oven. Nick has been utterly extraordinary in his determination to make a dream come true. Over time, with various teams of enthusiastic friends bestowing their much-appreciated gifts of time and talent, he has managed to create a much-loved covered outdoor kitchen.
The twisted tree trunks, timber cladding, recycled pool tables, stained-glass windows, pebble mosaics and ships' portholes, have truly endowed The Bakehouse with a character of its own. The Bakehouse is a piece of wood butchery, a celebration of the crazy and spontaneous, and imbues all who come within with just a little of its wild charm. It is where we gather with guests staying in the cabins for sumptuous wood fired pizzas in the summer months. The Bakehouse is the perfect place to gather for meals during our courses.