Home that works for its living

Running her own business, making time for husband Richard and daughter Mala, plus keeping fit and seeing friends, is possible thanks to a clever re-model of her home near Burley-in-Wharfedale.

The beautiful rural property is a place where she can work, rest and play after she added a contemporary studio-showroom next to the house and banded together with a neighbour to build a tennis court.

"It's fantastic. Before that my office was bursting at the seams and when Mala came along it became her bedroom," says Sarah, founder of belt brand Opika.

"I love playing tennis, but it was getting difficult to find the time. Now the court is on the doorstep and friends regularly come round to play. It's great."

Sarah moved to the three-bedroom stable conversion 10 years ago and she has used her art and design skills to transform the interior. It reflects her love of travel and the years she spent working in Africa.

The former fashion designer had her own business Planet Earth and a shop in the Corn Exchange in Leeds, before the travel bug bit and she applied to work for the Voluntary Service Overseas. She was co-ordinator of a skills training programme for people who were HIV positive and helped villagers design fair-trade products that would appeal to the western market.

The house is full of mementoes from that time including cushions made from cloth she bought in Zambia, a chair covered in material from the Congo, a raffia trunk from Malawi, tribal masks and porcupine quills.

One of her favourite pieces – a dancing costume from the Congo made from tree bark – has pride of place in the downstairs loo.

Most poignant though are the colourful paintings in the dining kitchen given to her by her friend Clement in Zambia, who was later diagnosed HIV positive.

"They are amazing paintings and yet he had no formal training at all," says Sarah, who mixes modern furniture with antiques including the 17th century coffer in Mala's room.

"I love antiques. That patina and the history is what attracts me. I love Elaine Phillips shop in Harrogate but a lot of what we have has been handed down to us from family. A lot of our possessions are very personal with a story attached."

When Mala, whose name means beautiful garland, was born, Sarah transformed the home office into a pretty pink bedroom for her. "That left me with nowhere to work and I had stock piled behind the sofa. So we applied to build the studio next to the house and it's made a massive difference to my life."

The contemporary, glass-fronted, single storey building is on the site of an old greenhouse and is seconds from her kitchen door.

It was built in reclaimed stone by Darren Bye from Addingham. "It's close to the house but completely separate and it's got its own bathroom and kitchen area too. It's multi-functional.

It's an office, design studio and showroom, but I've also used it for parties."

Sarah began designing belts and waist jewellery five years ago after spotting a gap in the market and finding a luxury manufacturer in Spain, which also produces bags for Loewe. They are made from leather, but also from skins that are by-products from the food industry. These include eel, Nile perch and zampadigallina, which is from chicken legs.

"I wanted to do something different, but I also wanted to make belts for all shapes and sizes and that's one of the reasons we've done so well. I'm now looking into designing waist jewellery for the bridal market."

The belts have been modelled by Kate Moss and have featured in Vogue. They were stocked by Harvey Nichols and Harrods until Sarah took Opika completely online.

"The exchange rate with the euro has been a problem for me because I am working with a Spanish manufacturer. I want the belts to be relatively affordable but with the retailer mark up and the euro-pound situation they were becoming more expensive, so I decided to sell them from the website. I'm lucky I already had a loyal following."

After work and at weekends, Sarah relaxes playing tennis on the court created three years ago.

"We bought the land from a garden centre and our neighbour suggested

we share building a tennis court. It has the most wonderful views of

Ilkley Moor."

It's just one of the reasons she never wants to move.

"I've got absolutely everything I need here and I know I am very lucky."

The Opika online boutique is at www.opika.co.uk

YP MAG 28/8/10