Inside a world of difference

It retains its period charm outside but the historic shell hides a completely new contemporary interior.

"It was a lovely house but it had originally been converted in the 1970s and the layout reflected that," says Barrie. "We wanted something more open-plan. What we have done is quite radical but we knew we wanted to be here for a long time. We were living in Nidderdale and wanted to be in Harrogate for business and environmental reasons because it cut down on travel, and this house is in walking distance of the town centre."

The layout and look have been transformed to suit Barrie and Rachel's taste and their busy lifestyle. Such was the scale of the revamp, they moved out for four months while the work was carried out. The property had a hall, small kitchen with stairs to the first floor, living/dining room plus a bathroom and two bedrooms upstairs.

The stairs were moved to the living room and two Velux windows installed to bring light onto the landing and stairway. Patio doors now lead onto the garden. A garden store at the back of the house was made into a small library area leading off the sitting room.

Losing the hallway and stairs made the kitchen bigger with space at the back for a cloakroom and utility room. Upstairs there is a large master bedroom and a new Juliet balcony, a guest bedroom and a new, much larger bathroom.

The couple, who run management consultancy business Fishermann, had their own ideas on remodelling and design and were helped by Salt Architects, in Beverley, and Michael Wright. Furniture designer Michael, now a specialist supplier and fitter of kitchens by Italian company Effeti, came up with some fantastic ideas.

"Michael understood exactly what we wanted from the kitchen, which was simplicity and no clutter and for Rachel to be able to talk to guests while preparing food. He was brilliant because he has a fantastic design eye but he's also very practical," says Barrie.

"He didn't just help us with the kitchen. He had a hand in most of the house. We're very grateful to him for advising us not to have glass stairs because they would be too noisy in the sitting room. He was right and we went for wood with carpet on."

Local builder Paul Fenton, from Pateley Bridge, dedicated 14 weeks to the project; the couple moved back in June 2009. The kitchen, which cost about 35,000, is the heart of the house and their favourite room.

"It works brilliantly. We don't have an office so we hot desk with our laptops and we often settle at the kitchen table," says Rachel, who chose to decorate the walls of the house in calming shades of grey enlivened by colour from soft furnishings and art. The painting in the sitting room is by Penny Wood, Victoria's sister, and is

a favourite.

They brought some furniture with them from their former home, including the Robin Day Forum sofas and added some budget buys from Ikea. "The shelving in the library area is all Billy bookcases and they look fine. You don't always have to pay a fortune for something well designed that fits," says Rachel, who cut costs by making cushions and curtains herself.

Good storage was vital for the couple, who were downsizing. Clarity Arts created some clever under-eaves wardrobes in the master bedroom and Rachel designed some benches in the garden room, with storage inside. The well-thought out design has paid off

says Rachel.

"The house works brilliantly for us and because we took it right back, we were able to make it more eco-friendly. We put in insulation and underfloor heating and had new wooden windows made with double-glazed units."

The final part of their makeover was the garden, which was designed by Lizzie Tulip. "It was mainly lawn. I had it redesigned by Lizzie to include a sense of formality and with lots of plants and a veg plot," says Rachel, who is a keen gardener.

The work to the property adds up

to a large sum of money, but although they went over budget, they have no regrets.

"We've lived in the house as it is for over a year and there is nothing we would change," says Rachel.

"It is the first place we have lived that has suited us perfectly and I can't imagine ever moving from it."

USEFUL CONTACTS

Michael Wright Furniture and supplier of Effeti Kitchens, Blubberhouses, near Harrogate. Tel: 0845 050 6539, www.michaelwrightfurniture.co.uk

Salt Architects, Beverley. www.saltarchitects.co.uk

Builder, Paul Fenton, Pateley Bridge. Tel: 07890 503749

Sound system by Photon AV, tel: 0113 350 4769, www.photonav.co.uk

Fabrics from Waltons Mill Shop, Tower Street, Harrogate tel: 01423 520980.

Clarity Arts, built-in furniture, www.clarityarts.com

Lizzie Tulip Garden Design, www.lizzietulip.com, tel: 07714 324 966

YP MAG 12/6/10