Sensational Yorkshire self-build with Dutch and Australian influences

Bauk Mayer and his wife, Jayne, are a match made in heaven when it comes to property as both are seasoned renovators. The couple’s prowess and impressive contact list was invaluable when it came to building this sensational house in Cowthorpe, near Wetherby.

“We thought we were buying a renovation project because there was an old bungalow on the site but it was in such bad condition we decided to knock it down and start from scratch,” says Dutch-born Bauk, who designed the house and project managed the build.

Best known as the owner of the online vintage homeware store, EU Vintage, he also has experience of project managing developments. “Rather than hire a main contractor, I brought in my own really good tradespeople, who I knew I could rely on,” he says.

With everything bespoke, he and Jayne were able to incorporate an undercover terrace outside. “I used to live in Sydney, Australia, and they were common there. Our undercover area is accessed from the end of the family room and, as the weather here isn’t as warm as in Australia, we have put a heater in the ceiling. It is a lovely place to be in the day and at night,” says Bauk.

He and Jayne also had concrete floors installed on the ground floor and specified high ceilings and plenty of windows so there is a great sense of space and light. The kitchen units are from Bauk’s native Holland, as are the doors, which are extra tall. The furniture includes some of his best vintage finds, including the dining table, which is a fabric cutting table from an old factory.

The couple are selling their new home as they have decided to look for a live-work property, where they can base Bauk’s vintage warehouse and Jayne’s catering business.

“Ideally, we would like an old farm with outbuildings to convert,” he says.

Green Ridge, Cowthorpe, is now for sale for £1.4m with Croft Residential and has a hall, an open plan living kitchen with bi-folding doors leading to the undercover terrace, a living room, a cloakroom/WC and a utility room. Upstairs, there is a galleried landing, main bedroom with walk-in dressing room and bathroom, two double bedrooms with a jack and jill shower room, two further double bedrooms, another bedroom used as a study and a house bathroom. Outside, there is a double garage, off-street parking and gardens.

Contact: Croft Residential, tel: 01904 238222, www.croftresidential.co.uk