The home that John built

John Winter has spent his entire working life building houses for other people, but creating a dream home for himself and his young family has proved to be his greatest challenge yet.

He is the managing director of East Yorkshire-based Hoveden Homes and two years ago John started work on a new five-property development on a one-acre site in Howden. He and his wife, Katie, earmarked a large, secluded plot for themselves and their two boys, George, seven, and Toby, five, and set about planning a “forever” home that would accommodate their family’s needs, both now and in the future.

John says: “I think it was the fear of making a wrong decision and because we knew we wanted to stay here for the foreseeable future. Also, because we do this for a living and we go to home shows to get ideas, there was almost too much choice for us.”

When considering what style they were aiming for, their starting point was the elegant symmetry of the Georgian-style properties that Katie is fond of. However, they also wanted to re-create the open-plan living space that had suited family life so well in their previous home. In the end, it was the vast kitchen, dining and living space at the very heart of their new home that dictated the entire lay-out.

John explained: “For us, this was the key room and the end result is ideal for what we want. At times, when we were constructing the house, it was referred to as the ‘bowling alley’ because it was such a huge, empty space, but it works really well now and is the hub of the house.”

The room is divided into three clearly defined zones – for cooking, eating and relaxing – and bi-fold doors with solar-powered blinds set within the glass lead out onto the garden at each end.

Katie said: “When the weather is nice, you open up the doors and it feels like you’re outside. We spend most of our time in here.”

One of the first purchases that the couple made for the open-plan living area was a huge, chocolate brown leather sofa from BoConcept at the Red Brick Mill at Batley, which can easily seat 10 to 15 people. In most people’s homes this would look drastically out of proportion, but it’s perfectly suited to the room’s generous dimensions.

There’s still plenty of space between the lounge and kitchen zones for a central dining area furnished with an oak table and chairs from Rodgers of York. A wood burning stove has been built into the chimney breast at the head of the table, creating a cosy setting in which Katie and John enjoy hosting their family at Christmas.

The sleek and understated kitchen from Interiors of Harrogate is fitted with built-in appliances by Miele, including three different types of hob, two built-in ovens, a microwave, a steamer, a plate warmer and a coffee machine. When deciding what sort of equipment to include in the design, Katie and John did a “let’s do lunch” event at the Miele Experience Centre at Abingdon, near Oxford, where they were able to see the product range in use and speak to experts about which combination would work best in their kitchen.

In addition to the open-plan living space, there’s a separate, formal living room where a huge projector screen drops down from the ceiling at the touch of a button.

Katie explained: “This is our Saturday night DVD room. We snuggle down with the boys on the sofas and watch their favourite films and programmes. We have black-out blinds and curtains in here; it’s just like being in a cinema.”

With their timeless design and warm colours, two stripey Duresta sofas create a clever contrast with a leather sofa and sleek furniture from BoConcept. The overall effect is modern yet homely, but also hints at Katie’s passion for classic design.

This jutaxposition between the traditional and the contemporary is in evidence throughout the house; a grand, feature staircase in solid oak leads up from the entrance hall but the chunky, square spindles give a 21st century feel. Exposed oak beams could appear out of place in a newly-built house, but, unfussy light fittings from Hull Lighting and a largely neutral colour scheme punctuated only by soft furnishings and artwork in bold accent colours ensures that the end result is modern, yet classic.

In the master bedroom and two guest bedrooms, Katie has chosen simple, white bedding but added splashes of colour and pattern using curtains, cushions and throws made from floral fabrics sourced from Browns of York. Each of these three rooms has a stylish en-suite bathroom with Villeroy and Boch fittings from Smith Brothers of York, and tiles from Porcelanosa. The en-suite off Katie and John’s master bedroom has a bath as well as a shower; a built-in (waterproof) television; and is connected to the built-in NuVo sound system available throughout the house.

The couple have put a great deal of thought into built-in features, all of which had to be factored in early on in the construction project. There’s underfloor heating (fitted by Martin Abbey of Goole) beneath the engineered oak floor; a closed circuit television security system; and even an innovative, integrated vacuum cleaning system by CVC Direct, which enables Katie and John to plug a vacuum hose into any one of a series of points throughout the house.

The black and silver family bathroom is a funky, masculine space that has clearly been designed with two growing boys in mind. George and Toby have identical rooms – so there can be no arguing about who has more space – with furniture from Rodgers of York, colourful bedding from The White Company and cheerful finishing touches, such as the bunting from The Last Detail. They both have doors directly from their bedrooms into a large, shared playroom.

Katie explained: “This is the ideal place for them to have all their toys now, but it will also work as the boys get older too, when it may become a games or computer room.”

The youngsters aren’t the only ones to have their own playroom; at the back of the house on the ground floor there’s a large space that John refers to as The Whisky Room.

With its own bar, framed vintage posters and a huge antique snooker table that John rescued from a church hall in Bramley and had restored to its former glory, it’s a fun space where he can entertain his friends. It’s also a room that Katie and John hope will come into its own when their sons become teenagers.

John said: “I don’t want them hanging around the park or the streets at night; I’d rather they bring their mates here.”

Elsewhere on the ground floor there is a separate shower room, toilet, utility room and office, not to mention a bright and airy orangery made by Oak Leaf of York, where John likes to sit with a coffee at the start of a busy day.

Although their desire for open-plan living ultimately led them away from the Georgian style that Katie had set her sights on, John has used his knowledge of the building industry to source York Handmade Bricks and other traditional building materials, creating the timeless and classic look that appeals to them both.

USEFUL CONTACTS

* BoConcept – www.boconcept.co.uk

* Red Brick Mill – 01924 460044 or www.redbrickmill.co.uk

* Rodgers of York – 01904 610570 or www.rodgersofyork.co.uk

* Smith Brothers – 01904 415222 or www.smithbrothersyork.com

* The Last Detail – www.thelastdetail.co.uk

* Oak Leaf of York – 01904 690401 or www.oakleafconservatories.com

* York Handmade Bricks – 01347 838881 or www.yorkhandmade.co.uk

* Interiors of Harrogate – 01423 528885 or www.interiorsofharrogate.co.uk