Cheshire Properties - Is this Styal cottage the perfect family home?

It is probably not the traditional way of choosing a house. Many homebuyers look for a solid structure, sound electrics and how long the boiler might last. But architects Annabelle Tugby and husband Simon, safe in the knowledge the black and white timbered cottage in Styal had already stood strong for over 300 years, bought it because of the stairs.

‘There was something really exciting because the house had two sets of stairs,’ remembered the 32-year-old. ‘It was this that made us fall in love with the house. We both loved the feeling of excitement of being in a house where we could have fun playing hide and seek as a family.

‘We’d also come from a house with no garden so coming to this cottage, which even had its own paddock, was amazing. It was everything we wanted.’

The previous house was a stark contrast to the couple’s new home. As students at Manchester School of Architecture they bought a run-down Victorian six bedroom town house in West Didsbury and spent eight years renovating it. Their architectural background helped but it was no small achievement for their age - both were in their early twenties.

But after the arrival of their first child Sophie, now three, and the discovery they were expecting twins, Ollie and Jude, now one, they knew a move was on the cards.

Annabelle, who owns Annabelle Tugby Architects, said: ‘The old house just wasn’t suitable for family life. For a long time we’d wanted to move back to the country and for us, Styal was the place. I grew up in lovely countryside in North Rode and I wanted that for our children.

‘The house in West Didsbury was hard work and it was a bit crazy because we did it when we were students. But it was also very rewarding and it set us up in this place, which is fantastic.’

The cottage, in Hollin Lane, was built in 1690 and is one of the oldest homes in the village – second only to a cruck framed property owned by the National Trust. It was once part of Birch Farm and was an inn used by the farmers.

Original beams can be seen in several rooms, a patch of wattle and daub has been exposed in what was the original entrance hall and look closely at one of the windows and you can spot a woman’s name engraved on it.

‘A local farmer told us it was done by Mary Renshaw who scratched her name in using the edge of her ring,’ said Annabelle. ‘Her brother, Tom, built one of the houses across the way from us which our friends live in.

‘That was what we loved about the house - its character. The history of the house was a big part of our decision. Until we build our own home from scratch, we were looking for a house that had lots of character and we definitely have that here.’

The couple have redecorated the cottage and filled it with personal mementoes including family photographs, items bought for them as wedding gifts and antiques they have collected from markets and shops in the area. Art work, created by final year degree students at Manchester University, takes pride of place on their walls, as does a carved wooden stag’s head made by Simon for Annabelle for Valentine’s Day. A chandelier in the master bedroom was bought in Porte de Clignancourt, an area in Paris full of antique shops and a famous flea market. An old Singer sewing machine case serves as their drinks cupboard.

They have also been influenced by their architectural backgrounds with some of the furnishings. In the sitting room is a Robin Day sofa, a Charles Eames rocker and around the dining table are Eiffel chairs, again by the renowned designer Eames.

Their paddock has trees which groan with an abundance of apples in the autumn and a home full of the character the couple longed for.

The property will soon be expanding as this year the couple will build an extension which will have a full glazed gable end. It will not only give them more living space, with an open plan sitting room, kitchen and dining room, but they’ll have better access to their garden.

Annabelle said: ‘The extension will make the house much more exciting for us to live in. There’s something very special about creating something from your own design and doing it well so it’s very exciting for us.

‘We have been thoroughly enjoying our new home for the past 18 months. We’re really looking forward to extending the life of the building with renovations and by adding a large family space to the west gable. We will be completing the pattern of 17th century, 19th century and now, 21st century constructions.

‘But most of all it’s about making our family life the best it can be. It’s about the simple pleasures of spending lots of time outdoors, walking to the village school with the children and enjoying happy times together.’

Get the look

Make the most of original beams, just like Annabelle and Simon, like this master en-suite design from Apadana in Knutsford, priced from £15,000. www.apadana.eu

Create the same look around your dining table with this Eames style dining chair inspired by Charles and Ray Eames’ Eiffel design from Iconic Interiors, priced £189 www.iconicinteriors.com

If you love the huge gold mirror in the children’s playroom then this mirrored armoir could be for you. It’s from Flora Furniture and costs £1,260

Choose a great cupboard like the one in Annabelle and Simon’s kitchen. This one from Rencraft will fit everything but the kitchen sink. Kitchen furniture starts at £12,000. www.rencraft.co.uk

One for the playroom or garden, this playhouse from Kiddiewinkles in Wilmslow, priced £195, will keep the little ones entertained for hours. www.kiddiwinklesshop.co.uk

The print version of this article appeared in the February 2012  issue of Cheshire Life 

We can deliver a copy direct to your door – order online here  

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