THIS is the story of the house that Neil built – almost literally, as it happens.

“When we first came here,” Neil says, “this was a very standard single-storey two-bedroomed bungalow. It’s a bit different now.”

Indeed it is… But first, let us do the introductions.

‘Here’ is Moorland Garth, a quiet, tucked-away cul-de-sac in a quiet part of Strensall. The village’s highly-regarded primary school a hop, skip and jump away to the left, the pubs, post office, pharmacy, Tesco express and doctor’s surgery a stroll away to the right.

‘Neil’ is Neil Sawyer, who came with wife Kirstie some seven years ago to view that pretty basic bungalow.

Right from the start, the couple knew what they wanted to do. This was definitely, they agreed, the right location.

All they needed now was to create a unique, spacious and stylish home.

“There was a bit of work involved,”

Neil says matter-of-factly and with a spot of English understatement. “But we had a vision of what we could do.”

Basically, he adds, they knocked down walls, built more rooms in a wraparound style, went up into the roof and created a dormer-style first floor.

Basically? Hmm… there’s obviously more to that story. In fact, it took the couple a year to finish that ‘bit of work’, with Neil – who has experience in various aspects of the building trade • CONTINUED ON PAGE 2– doing most of the hard graft himself.

And that’s not to mention the amount of thought, and no little imagination, that went into the process.

The result is, as they set out to achieve, a spacious and stylish home.

But to really appreciate that sense of style, and of space in particular, you need to look beyond the facade.

From the front, the house is pretty enough, set slightly back from the road and with a hard-standing parking area coloured by bushes and hedgerows.

But you don’t get any idea of just what lies behind the front door. For that, you need to take the tour. So, come with us as Neil leads the way.

You first step into a hallway, where a new staircase leads you up to the bedrooms and bathrooms above. Off to the right is a formal dining room and here is where you get the first idea of just how big this property really has become. There is a huge and impressive dining table at the centre of the room, set for eight people – and there is still plenty of room to stretch.

Across the way there is another room to the front, this one doubling as an office/fourth bedroom and with its own en-suite shower room.

“Useful,” as Neil says, “if you have a few friends staying over.”

(Or of course if nana or granddad is going to be part of your living arrangement as it’s a nicely selfcontained living-bedroom space).

Stepping further down the hallway, we come to the main living room, an even bigger space, 17ft by nearly 15ft, with double French doors and windows opening to the (west-facing) garden making it appear even bigger.

Along one wall there is a big, widescreen television, which, says Neil, gives the room its nickname.

“It’s the Grand Prix room,” he says, “a good place to watch the motor racing.”

Indeed. Even allowing for the excitement of Bernie Ecclestone’s sporting heroes, however, this is not Neil’s favourite room (nor mine, as it turns out).

That honour goes to the room that’s next on our tour. The newlycreated wraparound kitchen/dining/ family room.

This is the real wow factor spot in a very wowish house… It’s a great open space, easing itself gently from a sitting area off the hallway down to a dining area and then with the kitchen spreading out beyond.

Again, double French doors open onto the garden and light streams in, dancing happily along the whole space.

“We spend a lot of time in here,”

Neil says. “It’s a really lovely spot, great for entertaining because there’s plenty of room and it’s really good when the sun comes out.”

Which it has, this blue-sky afternoon, happily beaming away at the back garden. A good moment, then, to step outside. The garden’s a decent size, private and peaceful, with terrace and patio areas closest to the house, a lawn shaded by hedges, trees and shrubs and a covered area for Neil’s hot tub.

Oh, and then there is Pearl, Mary and Miss Ginger… three hens pecking away in their enclosure (Neil does not say whether he will be leaving the ladies in residence when the house is sold).

I think by now you are getting some idea of that spaciousness we talked about earlier – and we haven’t yet mentioned the conservatory that sits to one side of the back of the house!

And neither have we mentioned the sleeping quarters… Skipping up the new staircase, you come to a landing area big enough to house a computer station, should you need it.

At one end, there is a double guest bedroom with a smart ensuite bathroom with bath and walkin shower, to the centre there is another double bedroom and then comes the master bedroom suite which includes a double bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe and a bathroom.

All three of these rooms, despite facing the westward sun, feel cool (in all senses of the word) and comfortable.

And for the sentimental among you, here’s a little tale: In the middle bedroom there is a church pew, sitting along one wall. It is, Neil tells me, the very pew from which he and Kirstie were married. Some time after their wedding, it seems, he had the chance to buy it from the church and, old romantic that he is, he snapped it up straight away.

So, that’s the tour. Well worth stepping through the front door, I think you would agree.

Neil and Kirstie should be proud of realising their vision and in creating such a unique, stylish and spacious home.

5 Moorland Garth, Strensall

Reception rooms: 3 (plus a conservatory)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

Gardens: Front hard-standing area, parking area to the side and a pretty, west-facing, private garden to the rear

Price: £370,000

Contact: Stephensons, 01904 625533