Candle-lit spooky Gothic house snapped up at the first bite ...
With its bats, skulls and black and blood-red colour scheme, this spooky-looing house in Scarborough may not be to everyone’s taste.
The Gothic-style property in Trafalgar Square went on the market last week with a price tag of £155,000 and was snapped up by the first person who viewed it.
Owner Karen Woodward said: “There’s a lot of packing to do and I will really miss the house.
“It’s like my baby and I’ve put a lot of effort into it.”
Karen, who runs vintage store Phookaz in Eastborough, bought the enormous nine-bedroom terraced home six years ago. A regular visitor to Whitby, she and her former partner hatched a plan to move from her home city of Coventry to run a guest house on Yorkshire’s east coast. They bought the former B&B to renovate but never opened for business
Instead, Karen used her creative background in theatrical costume design to theme the property and fill it with macabre, antiquated and fantastical finds.
All the floorboards and most of the furniture have been painted black. The walls are a mix of ebony paint and wood-panel effect wallpaper. Elaborate drapes have been fashioned from Karen’s collection of old saris and her love of candles is most evident by the installation on the dining room table.
“I’m not a Goth but I like the style and, although the rooms might look a bit spooky, everyone who comes here comments on how warm and homely it feels,” she said. She said: “I thought the house might take a long time to sell because of the décor but the person who is buying it likes the style and he has asked about buying some of the furniture. I am really pleased about that because I would’ve been heartbroken if it had gone to someone who wanted to turn it into flats.” Clark Morton, manager of Reed Rains Scarborough, which marketed the property, said: “It is not often houses with such unique character come on to the market but when they do they often attract substantial interest, particularly from those who have similar tastes or interests as the owner.”