HAVING lived in the farmhouse next door as a child, Christine Kyratsous jumped at the chance to buy Greenfield House and Cottage when the properties came up for sale in 2006.
"I was on a mission as it’s a house I’ve always liked," she admitted. "I didn’t think twice about it." However, she wasn’t the only one to spot the huge potential of the two stone-built houses, in Bellingham, Northumberland, which had been joined together to make a care home, and the sale went to sealed bids. "Ours wasn’t the highest bid," said Christine, 47. "But I think the fact that we wanted to make it a family home swayed their decision." Along with her partner David, who she has since split from, Christine set about restoring the properties into a main six-bedroom house and a separate three/four bedroom cottage in the grounds. "It needed everything doing," she explained. "Each room had its own sink and buzzer for instance. It all had to be stripped back, re- plumbed and re-plastered." As the properties date back to 1895, they were keen to retain their period charm. "We tried to put everything back to how it was," said Christine. "In the main house we uncovered and restored two original fireplaces and we matched up missing pieces of skirting board and cornicing." The couple also converted the attic into three bedrooms and a bathroom, being careful to match the existing staircase to the original. The first floor of the main house has a large master bedroom suite with dressing room and luxurious en suite wet room along with two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. The ground floor has a dining room with inglenook, sunroom, lounge with open fire and study/family room. Christine’s favourite room is the kitchen/dining room, which was knocked through from two rooms and is flooded with light. There is also a utility room and cloakroom. Now Christine is putting the final touches to the cottage, which she also gutted. It has a kitchen with solid wood units, a shower room and a lounge with inglenook plus French doors to a private patio and garden. There is also a dining room, which could be used as a fourth bedroom. Upstairs are three double bedrooms and a bathroom with Jacuzzi bath. Christine says it has permission to be used as a holiday let. "It’s on the Pennine Way and near Kielder," she explained. Bellingham has good amenities including schools, shops, pubs, a heritage centre, town hall, hotels and an 18-hole golf course rated as one of the most scenic in the country. Hexham is 17 miles away and it’s a 45-minute drive to Newcastle. Christine, who has two children – son Lazaros, 14, and Kate, seven – has enjoyed returning to her childhood stomping ground having previously lived in Greece for 15 years with her late husband, but she is now hoping to move to Gosforth or Jesmond to be nearer her children’s schools. "We had intended to stay here long term," explained Christine. "So we spent a lot of time and money bringing it into the 21st Century, putting in a fantastic kitchen and making the bathrooms as fabulous as we could make them. "It’s been a very hard decision to leave as I do love the house a lot and it’s been decorated to my taste." Greenfield House and Cottage, Bellingham, are for sale through Rook Mathews Sayer at £775,000, tel: (01434) 601616. | 
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