The house on the hill an inspirational, grade ii-listed, 18th-century home

There’s a welcome on the moors, and a stylish interior to boot, at Sally Crossley’s beautiful home

Sally Crossley had long admired one particular house in the conservation area of a village that had been part of the West Yorkshire silk, cotton and woollen industries, but she never imagined that one day she would live there.

The Grade II-listed house, dating from the 18th century, was also noteworthy as it had once been owned by a local businessman who had saved the village from demolition in the 1960s.

Sally was living with her daughters in a village a few miles away, and when she met John, who shared a home with

his daughters in another village, they wanted to find a house they could all move into. “We were looking for a comfortable house that had six bedrooms as we have five daughters between us,” says Sally. “It also had to be near where John and I worked and close to the girls’ school – fortunately, they all attended the same one.”

By chance in 2007, the house that Sally had always admired came up for sale so the couple went to view it and liked it so much they put in an offer. It had six bedrooms and came with 13 acres of woodland and garden. “Luckily we sold both our houses quickly and were able to buy it,” she says. “It proved perfect – I had been keen to stay in the area and now had my dream house, plus John and the girls loved it, too.”

The house did need some updating, however. “We replaced the kitchen and bathrooms and did a lot of decorating,” says Sally. Cream Shaker-style kitchen units and wooden furniture create a >>

light, bright area where all the family can gather. The bathrooms have a more current feel with bold dark greys downstairs and a chequerboard floor and silver roll-top bath upstairs. Keen to create a modern yet classic country interior, Sally used a neutral backdrop and added colour with art, cushions and flowers. “It can look too busy otherwise,” she says. “With a neutral scheme, it can be changed instantly with accessories.”

The living room and main bedroom have an English country house feel and Sally has gone to town with beautiful fabrics and wallpapers, enlisting the help of Oak House Design and Emma Kay & Co Interior Design to supply the soft furnishings. “To achieve a relaxed country style, I used heavy linens for blinds and curtains,” says Sally. “Curtains are lined and interlined so they hang nicely and have added warmth for colder months. I chose faded, muted colours to complement the room.”

Surrounded by a walled garden and woodland, the location of the house >>

is idyllic. A traditional glass conservatory overlooks the view and is the perfect place for entertaining. “The house is so peaceful and yet can be turned into the ultimate socialising space,” says Sally. It’s flexible in terms of layout and has lots of quiet cosy corners for reading and relaxing, yet it can accommodate large family gatherings – often spilling out into the garden.

“It’s definitely a home for all seasons. I love the fact that it can feel like two different houses – it’s cosy in winter and has a beautiful light, and in summer when the sun is shining, we open the doors onto the garden. We love that the

garden can be seen from all parts of the house and I enjoy planting up pots and borders that reflect the seasons. The girls all adore it here. When we thought about moving a while ago there was uproar, even though they’re not living here permanently any more as they’re all grown up, so I think we’ll be here for quite some time.” w&h