California dreaming in Mexborough

"I like an urban view. You can see over to Emley Moor on a clear day and at night it's stunning," says Terry gazing over the balcony leading off his master bedroom.

Those staring back up have a very different experience. For the Huggett house is pure LA – a little bit of California in the middle of Mexborough. It might appear out of place, but it's an eco-friendly work of art with an element of surprise.

The design is based on properties Terry and his wife Emma admired on holidays to America and was a collaboration between them and Transform Architects. "We've been on holiday to California for the last 10 years and we love the architecture there," says Terry, who has his own small building company.

"I had built three houses for myself before but because of their location they had to be traditional on the outside, though they were always modern inside. Here I've built what I really wanted."

Planning wasn't a problem as the land sits hidden behind a street of semis and terraces and is in what was once a paddock. "Doncaster Council were great and hopefully we've confirmed their faith in us. We started designing from the inside out so the interior suited our needs and that's why we ended up with the Y shape," says Terry, who won two Building in Excellence awards for the build.

The house is constructed with materials usually used on commercial buildings. The insulated block work is covered with a silicone-based render and the cantilevered monopitch roof is zinc.

"We're seeing commercial building materials crossing over into residential now and they all have long life expectancy," says Terry, who learned the trades from the groundwork up from his father. His own team built the house and it wasn't without complications, thanks to the torrential rain.

"There were times when I thought the rain was never going to stop. We were working in three and four inches of water on a type of build we'd never tackled before. It was a challenge, but I enjoy a challenge and I like doing something different."

His other stumbling block was finding a glass and steel

staircase. "Companies in London were very expensive and didn't want to know when I said where I was from. My father-in-law worked for a

steel fabricators and suggested they might help me."

Munroe Designs in Doncaster came up trumps and created a staircase for half the price they charge in the capital. The property is also designed to be eco-friendly and faces south west to soak up sun through large areas of Velfac glazing. The colder north west side has the minimum amount of windows to prevent draughts and heat loss. The house is also airtight with a lighting management and a rainwater harvesting system plus underfloor heating. The latter uses 30 per cent less energy than radiators.

The layout, which includes a galleried landing, is carefully planned to meet the needs of a young family, so there is an enormous, double height living space with wipe-clean, porcelain tiles on the floor. At the back are rooms that need little light including a cloakroom, cinema room, office, and utility room. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and four bathrooms.

"I tried to think of everything, including putting noisy appliances in the utility room at the back of the house so we wouldn't hear them when we were relaxing. We also planned in a lot of storage so we could keep the minimal look and everything is easy to maintain. The lighting in the bathroom is touch tile so there are no pull strings which get dirty and the chandelier in the dining room is on a motorised winch so I can change the bulbs easily," says Terry.

The finish is immaculate and shows his perfectionist nature, while the interior is testament to his keen interest in contemporary design. The kitchen by Leicht cost 20,000 from John Longton in Barnsley and blends seamlessly with the open-plan living space. The focal point of the sitting area is the grey classic Togo sofa from Ligne Roset at Ponsfords in Sheffield.

Keeping the place clean with five-year-old son Bailey and new baby Poppy isn't as difficult as you might expect and it still looks as pristine as it did when it was finished two years ago. "It's easy as everything is painted white and Bailey has learned not to touch the walls if he has dirty hands."

The property, which cost 300,000 to create excluding the cost of the land, is perfect and Terry and Emma wouldn't have it anywhere else. "I'm from Mexborough and I love it," says Terry. "I'm proud of where I am from and I don't want to live anywhere else. "We've brought a bit of LA to Mexborough and I'm happy with that."

Terry's useful contacts

Builder: Terry Huggett Developments, www.terryhuggettdevelopments.co.uk and House website: www.hill-crest.eu

Architect: Transform Architects, www.transformarchitects.co.uk

Stairs: Munroe Designs, Doncaster, tel: 01405 814561, www.munro-designs.co.uk

Kitchen: John Longley, Barnsley, tel: Tel: 01226 248766 , www.jslongley.co.uk

Furniture: Ponsfords, Sheffield, www.ponsford.co.uk

Bathrooms: Platinum Bathrooms, Doncaster, tel: 01709 588822 www.platinum-bathrooms.co.uk

Plastering: A.Huggett, 0798 562 1403

Underfloorheating: P. Foss, 0771139 6080

YP MAG 15/5/10