Fine & Country Feature Property - Ranch Style Living

Winter Edition (November / December 2007)

Creating a home which did justice to its location was the driving force for the owners of this family home six miles north of Leeds. Set in 21 acres a few minutes walk from the village of Bramhope, its south facing position over miles of rolling fields of West Yorkshire can only be described as idyllic.

“Looking out over three miles of countryside across your own land without a building in sight is breathtaking,” say the current owners of Bramhope Park Hall. And for us on our first viewing it was a location which was never going to be beaten.  The home on the site was in a sorry state but as I stood there on that first visit I had a vision of the house it could become – and that is the property you see before you today – seven bedrooms in the main house plus a two bedroom apartment above the garage.

“My job is designing homes and each property I have lived in myself has to work on a number of levels when it comes to enjoying a house. I can’t cut corners and everything about the layout and the way a home is run on a day to day basis has to work smoothly. In our master bedroom we can sit in bed and be mesmerised by the views framed in the windows. At the side used by my wife is her dressing room and at my side is my dressing room and in between the two is our en suite bathroom.”

The high level of design isn’t restricted to the main house. “The main entrance gates are electronically operated. As I’m waiting to drive in they swing open, as I approach the garage, the doors are up, and from there I can walk through another door into the house. It’s a smooth journey right into the kitchen and there’s never any dodging raindrops as you leave your car.”

The garden too has been designed with the best interests of the owners’ family in mind. “There is a circular tarmac driveway,” continues the owner, “perfect for the children riding their bikes.  The formal garden is low maintenance with extensive use of shrubs and there is a large stone paved patio for entertaining, near the splash pool.  This is a house perfect for entertaining in all respects. Both the dining room and the family room open onto the garden and in the winter, especially around Christmas, the entrance hall with its ceiling more than 25 foot high really comes into its own.

Beyond the grounds the village lies at the back of the house. “Within 150 yards or a few minutes walk you’ll find a pub, post office and a corner shop,” says the owner.  “We’re the closest you’ll get to the greenbelt in the area.  We’re a couple of miles from Leeds Airport and about 6 miles from Leeds centre. It really is a prime location.

“The house and grounds are very private and many people who have lived in the area for years are surprised to find it here.  The approach along a long drive forces you to look at the house as it appears before you – and it’s a sight which can’t fail to impress. I have a real sense of achievement over the work done at Bramhope Park Hall. I’ve been passionate about getting it right and each time I design another building it’s been a chance to fine tune my ideas. Here, there has been the advantage of the spectacular location with views that can never let you down.”