Wilsden home passes screen test (From Advertiser Series)

Wilsden home passes screen test

1:01pm Wednesday 6th January 2010

If you could have anything you like in your new home, what would it be? Big enough so that children can be not seen as well as not heard, a spa bath big enough for two or a home cinema?

Well this spacious detached home has all that... and more.

It has four bedrooms – all of which are larger than double – a state-of-the-art cinema room with air conditioning and electric recliner seating, and the middle of this month will see the downstairs bathroom refurbished to include a two-person spa bath.

The owners, Lee and Gemma Riley – plus children Alex, James and Kate – love their home in the village of Wilsden.

“The ‘wow’ factor for us was definitely the size, with massive living accommodation,” says Lee. “It’s also in a lovely spot in a nice private setting, but still in the community.

“It’s a little village, but with all the things you need nearby including a couple of good pubs and good schools. With a train station not far away and bus stops nearby, it has great links.”

Lee and Gemma started work on the house the minute they moved in, but had the good sense not to be there. “We went off on holiday for ten days while the decorators were in,” says Lee.

“The ground floor is very open and the kitchen is enormous,” he says. “We retiled the floor in the kitchen, and put in new worktops and wall tiles. We also put in a laundry room with new combination boiler, which has reduced our bills. Then we laid new carpets and decorated.”

You enter the house through a large porch which has natural stone tiles and underfloor heating. “This is where I keep my fruit machine,” says Lee.

To the right is the integral garage, which is bigger than a double and has an electric door. To the left is the open plan kitchen, with gas range and room for a table. Then it’s through into the main dining room, off which are the laundry and downstairs bathroom.

Because it lies at the back of the house, the living room’s French windows make the most of the views over the extensive gardens.

Also on the ground floor is a conservatory, a pantry cupboard and of course the cinema room. This is not just a room with a large TV screen... it’s a proper home cinema.

“Everyone piles in there to watch the latest movies. The boys can also play on their Xbox, and playing their video games on a nine-foot screen has certainly proved popular with their friends.”

Of course, no cinema would be complete without popcorn, and that’s been taken care of too, with a microwave and microwavable popcorn on standby at all times.

“The cinema room is my favourite room in the house – my pride and joy. You can stream movies off the internet by using Apple TV or watch the latest BlueRay movies when they come out.”

In a corner of the living room is the staircase to the first floor, where there is a master bedroom with fitted wardrobes and drawers, together with an en-suite with spa bath and power shower, fitted furniture and tiled floor.

There are three further bedrooms and the family bathroom. All three bathrooms have underfloor heating.

“We all know that children can be noisy, but thanks to the size of this house you can also find a quiet spot.”

The size of the bedrooms means that, if necessary, you could subdivide them, and it would be an easy matter to turn the cinema room back into a family room.

Lee is also submitting a planning application to take down the conservatory and make the living room three times bigger.

The house has a large garden with a weeping willow, shrubs and rose bushes, lawns and koi carp pond.

“The children spend a lot of time out there on their trampoline or playing football,” says Lee. “It’s very secure, and the driveway at the front has room for eight cars.

“I’m going to miss the space we have here and the fact that you never have to queue for a bathroom in the morning!”

The Croft in Harden Lane, Wilsden, is on the market for £425,000 with Halifax estate agents, Bingley, telephone (01274) 568240.