Walls came tumbling down...

2:47pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

Two weeks after Carrie and James Trevelyan moved into Orchard Court, Carrie went out shopping and came home to find she had no walls in the main part of the house.

"Originally there was a library, lounge, dining room and a kitchen, and I came home to find it was just one big room, thanks to James," she recalls.

"He'd rung a friend and said come over... she's gone shopping'. We always wanted one big living space, but I did think I would get a bit more notice!"

James might have done a spot of demolition, but they did get in the experts to turn the room into the kind of space that is so popular in American homes.

"I love the fact that when I am cooking I can see everything. Guests sit at the dining table, the kids can be playing and they love the open space. Before there were lots of corridors and because of the shape of the house you could walk down one side and completely miss someone who was on the other side."

The family - they have a daughter, Xavia - have lived there for five years. Originally they were interested in the property next door, until this one came on the market.

"It was the courtyard that sold it to us. It was just so private. There was a lovely, warm and comfortable feeling about it."

While the interior didn't live up to expectations, the couple were undaunted.

"The previous owners had built it in the 1960s for their disabled son, so it's all on one level with no stairs at all. It still had the '60s style hessian wallpaper and cladding - lots and lots of cladding, including false sloping ceilings."

While all the work was being carried out they lived in what is now the games room, sharing their space with a pool table, sofa and virtually everything else. The whole project took about two years and included replastering the whole house and putting in three bathrooms, which are the last word in luxury.

There's little of the original house to be seen today in this light, airy and extremely modern property. Carrie's pride and joy is the decked courtyard.

"When we moved in it was Yorkshire stone with grass growing through it. We wanted to turn it into another room, mainly because we like entertaining. We put in decking and a hot tub, and then knocked through to put in three sets of patio doors. From one side of the house I can look right through into the other side.

"The lounge area has two sets of patio doors, at the front and back. I can enjoy the wonderful views across the front lawn and the Bradford cityscape."

The courtyard is Carrie's pride and joy and her favourite space. "The courtyard gets the sun all day, and with the yuccas and bay trees it has a very Mediterranean feel. It's like being on holiday."

The couple also put in a sauna big enough for six, and a games room, which is James' favourite space. "He wanted a boys' room, and I wanted another lounge; he won. Now it has an oak floor and a solid fuel stove fire, beamed ceiling, bar area and 12ft sliding doors leading out to the deck."

Their modern space now has an entrance hall with polished granite floor, and timber and beamed ceiling, an open plan living space with kitchen, dining room and sitting area, utility room, three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

"Having an open plan living space means we keep it clutter free," Carrie says.

To achieve this, everything in the kitchen is built-in, including a pull-out larder, magic corner and tamber unit, double oven, microwave, gas hob with wok burner, fridge/freezer and breakfast bars, offset by a textured granite floor.

In the sitting area is a fossilised fireplace with gas fire and range of spotlights. A glass door leads to an inner hall, with oak floors and mirrored built-in storage units, off which is the master bedroom with fitted wardrobes, drawers and cupboards and an en-suite shower room with corner shower.

There are two further bathrooms - one finished in polished travertine marble with glass corner shower, built-in sink with wall-mounted taps and sauna, and the other with corner bath, designer Italian glass sink with matching mirror and highly polished tiled floor.

"The house is plenty big enough for us, but there is planning permission to put in another floor, adding three more bedrooms," Carrie says.

There is a private driveway at the front, large electric gates leading to parking for six cars, a double stone garage and landscaped garden with balustrade decked area, along with a Yorkshire stone patio and well-stocked flower beds with shrubs and trees.

"We're set quite far back from the road, and we put in the high electric gates for safety when Zavia plays out. I know she's perfectly safe," Carrie adds.

"I'm really going to miss the courtyard because of all the entertainment we've had. It's a brilliant house for parties, and we've had quite a few."

Orchard Court at Halifax Road, Hightown, is on the market for £399,950 with Robert Watts, Cleckheaton, (01274) 878878.

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