Time for reflection...

12:30pm Wednesday 30th April 2008

Soon after Tai and Andrea Jolaoso moved into their home in Nab Wood a pair of mallards landed on the pond in the garden and stayed a while.

That was six years ago and the couple didn't see them again until a few months ago, when they returned to make the pond their home once again as the couple were deciding to put the property on the market.

"It's quite poignant that they should be here when we came and here again when we have decided to move on," Tai says.

Of course, it might not be the same pair of mallards - but that would ruin a perfectly good tale.

"We fell for the house because it had space and possibility. The location was great, the interior was so light and airy and the garden was so tranquil," he says.

The couple had plenty of plans for their new home, which was built in the 1930s by Proctor Brothers as a large family home and was later divided into two.

"We had all the floors sanded downstairs before we moved in," says Tai. It was a wise move as this is a job which creates clouds of dust.

After that it was the turn of the rest of this five or six bedroom home to undergo a radical transformation, turning it into a house of infinite possibilities. It could simply be a generous sized family home or, thanks to a single bedroom annex, it could provide an income or be used by a dependent relative or teenager.

On the ground floor the couple turned the former garage into a large bedroom with open plan shower. This is a huge space, more than 35ft long, so you could easily separate the space if needed.

"We didn't like the fitted kitchen, so we started from scratch and paid a visit to the showroom of a local company to have a look round. We liked what we saw so we had them make the units in reclaimed solid pine. They're all freestanding, including the island unit."

The dining kitchen is a good size, with plenty of room for a table and chairs, yet thanks to the stripped floor and freestanding units it has a very cosy feel. You could easily spend a lot of time in this room. Modern conveniences haven't been forgotten so there's a gas range style cooker adding to the country look, plus the requisite pot sink.

Also on the ground floor is a lounge with stripped pine bay window seat - just right for curling up with a good book and whiling away an hour or two - pine fire surround with open fire grate and double doors into the dining room. A study has fitted cupboards and shelves and there is also a cloakroom with WC and wash basin.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms, one with fitted wardrobes, cupboards and vanity wash basin, plus the family bathroom which has a shower cubicle, WC, wash basin and part-tiled walls; the couple are taking the roll top bath with them.

The self-contained apartment, which can be reached through a door on the first floor, the main house or via its own exterior entrance, has a living room/kitchen area with sink unit, cupboards and worktops, plumbing for a washing machine and pleasant views at the front and back. There is also a shower area and bedroom.

When it came to the interior decor, the Jolaosos knew exactly what they were after and were prepared to take their time over it. "We wanted to create a period feel to the house," Tai says.

This necessitated haunting reclamation yards and antique shops as they searched for the special items they wanted to use. Some of the doors with leaded lights came from an old school, for instance.

The end result is a comfortable home that nods its head at the Art Deco period without being overwhelmed by it; comfort is the key to the interior of this home.

"Our favourite room is the kitchen. It leads out on to the deck, so it brings the garden into the house and it's a great space for parties," Tai says.

The garden hasn't been left out of the overhaul, although the duck-friendly pond was already there. It's been landscaped as well as having the large deck put in.

"The garden's about 80ft long, and it's quite low maintenance. It's a very peaceful space that's nice to just sit in and enjoy. At the bottom there's a gate leading on to New Close Road, which is great if you have children going to a local school."

Now the couple are looking for another project, but are in no illusion about what they will miss. "It's the space and the location, plus the flexibility of the house, which could be used to create a really spacious family home."

This house in Glenview Road, Nab Wood, is on the market for £429,950 with Dacre, Son & Hartley, Saltaire (01274) 581794.

Editor's choice