A LOVE of design and a wish to expand has meant Sharon and Andy George have created an extraordinary versatile house which has grown and adapted to the needs of their family.

SHARON and Andy George knew exactly what they wanted when house hunting in their home town 14 years ago, as SUSAN GOODSON found out.

Detached and a bungalow were two points at the top of the list and even though they found what they wanted, they have since extended the house twice.

The house - 72 Cowlarns Road, Barrow - is a detached family home, substantially extended and immaculate with quality presentation throughout, including a fantastic kitchen and entertainment room.

The house has an entrance porch, hall, superb quality fitted kitchen with central island and other modern facilities, cosy spacious living room, dining room, entertainment room, utility room, three bedrooms with a four-piece en-suite to the master, including a whirlpool bath and a luxury family bathroom with roll-top bath.

There is also a workshop and loft store room with potential for further development (subject to any planning permissions needed). The original extension is also fitted with under-floor heating.

Outside there are gardens to the front and back along with ample off-road parking.

Having one extension to your house is not uncommon, two is less so - but that is exactly what Sharon and Andy did, changing the dynamics of the house and ensuring it adapted to the needs of the George family.

Sharon said: “The first extension added an extra bedroom to the house which was taken over by Andy’s daughter Becky and then when we extended again we got rid of the conservatory and created a large kitchen diner with a breakfast bar.

“I love designing things and I decided on large bi-folding door leading out from the breakfast bar into the garden.

“The kitchen tiles are replicated out on the patio.

“This has resulted in blurring the line of where the inside of the house stops and the outside begins.

“Sitting in the breakfast bar with the doors open it is a bit of a joke in the family that you can get a sun tan while still inside.”

The kitchen also has a feature brick wall and this fantastic room is the result of Sharon’s love of design.

A further superb feature of this room is that now they have three young grandchildren who come to stay there are no sharp corners in the room.

Sharon added: “It means that if the children are running around inside they might knock themselves and it will hurt but there is less chance of injury without any sharp edges, just round corners to the units and breakfast bar.”

On top of all the kitchen diner space a former bedroom in the original building is now used as a dining room but still has built-in wardrobes.

The family/entertainment room has also adapted over time and the family have used it for various parties and events over the years, but this room could easily be converted by the new owner for their own use.

The family room has an undeveloped attic area above it which has solid flooring, lights and electric, with planning permission it could be converted into a bedroom and turned into an internal flat or an office for someone working from home.

She added: “Now the family room is used when Becky, who lives in Scotland, comes to stay with her children.

“They can have a space to themselves while we are in the original part of the house.”

Outside to the back of the house the garden is secured from the front by gates on both sides of the house and it gets the sun all day which makes it a popular area for family.

During the 14 years Sharon and Andy have owned their home they have constantly made improvements including a renewed roof with new tiles, fascias and sofits, a log burner professionally installed in 2014, cavity wall insulation in 2006, condenser boiler installed in 2011 and regularly serviced, the kitchen extension was completed in 2006/7 and the kitchen extension was carried out in 2014 and electrical rewiring.

Having created a stunning family home the couple are now looking for a new project.

The house - 72 Cowlarns Road, Barrow - is on the market with the Cumberland Estate Agents for the asking price of £285,000.

For further details or to arrange a viewing please call the agent on 01229 615140 or call into the offices at 188 Dalton Road, Barrow.