Modern love: buyers attracted to Ilkley home with brand new look

Ann Marie added bold colour and a pop of yellow to the sitting room

Aware that his home was looking a little dated, Richard Morton drafted in help from an interior designer.

“The house was completely remodelled eight years ago but it’s amazing how quickly fashion moves on and the room had started to look dates. It was all big flowery wallpaper and feature walls.

“I wanted to put the property on the market and I know it takes more than the smell of baking bread and fresh coffee to sell a house,” he says.

He hired Ann Marie Cousins, of AMC Interior Design, to modernise the look and was delighted with the outcome.

“Richard wanted the house to feel more homely and it was clear from his taste in art that he liked strong colour so I pushed him to the edge of his comfort zone,” says Ann Marie.

Within two months she had redecorated the whole house, added new accessories and soft furnishings and created a gallery wall of family pictures and his children’s art work.

The photogenic result has attracted a queue of would-be buyers to view the property.

The artwork reflects the owner's love of colour

“At the start of the process I asked a few estate agents if I should redecorate and, apart from the agent I am with now, they all said ‘don’t bother’,” says Richard.

“They were wrong. It has made a big difference and was more than worthwhile. I can’t recommend Ann Marie highly enough and the cost was money well spent. I will get back every penny and more when I sell.”

The semi-detached home in the Middleton area of Ilkley has an entrance hall, two reception rooms, a large open plan living kitchen with access to a south-facing rear garden. The ground floor also has a utility, cloakroom / wc and access to the cellar.

On the first floor, there is a large master bedroom suite with dressing room, Juliet balcony and luxurious en-suite. There are a further three bedrooms, one with an en-suite. The second floor has a double room and a house bathroom.

The kitchen has a new look thanks to a lick of paint.

For further details on the property contact Dacre, Son and Hartley, Ilkley, tel: 01943 600655, www.dacres.co.uk. AMC Design, Ilkley, www.amcinteriordesign.co.uk

*The popular enclave of Middleton is set on a south-facing bank and is in walking distance of Ilkley town centre. It is also home to the town’s cricket and rugby clubs along with the swimming pool. A short stroll over the Old River Bridge leads to pubs and Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. Ilkley is popular due to its excellent schools, its wealth of amenities and its close proximity to open countryside. It also has good transport links, including a railway station with frequent services to Leeds, Bradford and beyond.