Ilkley_postcard

I’ve known Karen and her sister Anne since fourth grade. Karen was my best friend growing up and ultimately, my maid-of-honor. Anne is her older sister. During play dates, Karen and I were silly girls who avoided (the more mature) Anne, as we played top secret spy games under the stairs. After high school, Karen and I only saw each other every few years. I rarely saw Anne, especially after she met the love of her life in Japan and followed him to his childhood home in England. Anne and Chris settled into a beautiful old row house in Ilkley, UK, where they are raising their daughter and two twin boys. It has been years since I’ve seen Anne, but when we were contemplating our trip to the UK this summer, I thought it would be fun to look her up and visit with her and her family. We had such a wonderful visit with them and I fell head over heels in love with their home.

blue_doorway

I begged them to let me share their home on the blog, so be sure to thank them!

violets_doorstep

Come right this way, I have one of those antique keys to unlock the front door. Can you imagine how many generations of families have used this same key hole?

keyhole_brass_plate

The first thing you notice as you walk in the door is the amount of beautiful wood, molding and character in their home.

stairway_molding

A little background, their home was built about 1880 and has four floors. The kitchen on the downstairs floor, a living room and library on the main floor, bedrooms upstairs and two additional rooms on the top floor. Right this way and I’ll take you on the tour.

sitting_room

The plaster ceiling medallions look like frosted wedding cakes!

ceiling_medallion_beige_drumshade

library_piano_room

More beautiful details. Scrumptious!!!

ceiling_medallion_blue_shade

What I love most about their house was the natural patina of wear on the doors.

old_wood_door

Can you imagine the fingers that touched this door? What was life like for a young child in 1880? Did he or she leave sticky finger marks on the door? Or did he poke at the door to leave the patterned dots. Oh if only doors could talk!

door_with_rustic_wear

Not to be outdone, the wood floors in the home are amazing. The age and beauty of the wood yearn to tell of bare feet and boot scrapes for over 100 years.

Old_wood_Floors

One of my favorite rooms is one of the twin boy’s room. He has a skylit (and moonlit) room on the top floor.

attic_bedroom

boys_bedroom_skylight

The velux window opens to let fresh air inside.

velux_windo_open

From his window you can see across the countryside.

View_from_velux_window

If you look the other way you get a nice view of Ilkley’s signature rock formations the Calf and the Cow (The stones jutting out on the hillside.):

calf_and_the_cow_Ilkley

Can you imagine sleeping under the stars? It almost feels like you’re camping.

velux_window_over_bed

red_chair

Another beautiful door. I love the exterior lock mechanisms and the wooden knob.

wood_doorknob
Gorgeous old floors, with wide gaps reveal no subfloor, but the ceiling of the rooms below. I’m sure there are lots of hidden treasures and maybe some notes under those floors.

old_wide_plank_flooring

On the second floor are the rest of the bedrooms. I had to take a picture of their daughter’s bed with the diamond finials.

rose_bed

A painting in the master bedroom caught my attention. I am in love with the colors and the country road that disappears to hidden destinations.

country_lane

Head downstairs to the lower level to my favorite room.

door_to_downstairs

Past another old door that hides storage and a washing machine.

closet_door_downstairs

Into the kitchen.

ilkley_kitchen

Even though this is the ground level of the home, there is lots of beautiful light that floods in from the courtyard outside the window

cookbooks

 

The farmhouse table is the star of this room. Both our families and my mom fit around the table for dinner and breakfast.

kitchen_table

farmhouse_table

bowl_fruit_on_table

You might have noticed that original stone mantel in the room. Before it was closed up, this was where older generations created a fire to cook over. The stone bears the marks of many a delicious open-hearth cooked meal.

wood_burning_stove

On cool nights a fire in the wood burning stove makes this chair the prime spot for reading.

purple_chair_corner

Check out the cute little wool artwork that their daughter made:

sheep_wool_art

Step outside the kitchen door into the lush courtyard.

blue_door_to_courtyard

backyard_courtyard

hanging_flowers

courtyard_wall

flower_pots

pink_flowers

purple_flowers

There’s a funny story about this gate. During dinner, Chris and Anne mentioned that they forgot the bread. Chris ducked out the kitchen door saying he’d be right back. A few minutes later he came back into the kitchen with bread rolls in hand. I thought they had a food storage pantry beyond the gate. It was revealed to me later that the gate leads to a little alley way and that he actually ran down the lane to the store a block away. Apparently they fool many guests with their abundant supply of food and drink.

garden_gate_to_courtyard

Judging by the curvature of the steps, Chris and Anne aren’t the only ones who have used these steps to sneak out the back.

curved_stone_stairs

What did you think? Isn’t their home charming? I could easily settle into life in Ilkley.

PHGFancySign

26 replies
Newer Comments »
  1. Karen
    Karen says:

    What beautiful photos, Brittany! You have such a perfect eye for detail and an imaginative appreciation for the history of the home–I’m sure Chris told you about the history of the neighborhood and the people who used to live on that street. I’ll make sure that the kids see the photos of their home! A. especially will love seeing his bedroom highlighted on the internet. Miss you and sorry we couldn’t make it over there at the same time! xoKaren

    Reply
  2. Courtney R
    Courtney R says:

    Hi,

    I just found your blog and I saw you live in NC so my ears perked up. I grew up in NC and currently live in Greenville, NC so we are practically neighbors! I saw your home tour, what a dream…. I loved the moon details in your son’s room. My 2 years old is OB-sessed with the moon (I blamed Despicable Me).

    I look forward to learning from your blog!!

    Reply
  3. Kerry
    Kerry says:

    Thank you, and your friends, for sharing their charming home! I’ve loved your posts on the UK – we were there at about the same time and just didn’t get enough!! Your photos are gorgeous.

    Reply
  4. Erika Jones
    Erika Jones says:

    Lovely home, Anne and Chris- thanks for sharing! I, too, live in a row house built in the 1880s, but in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is fun to see the similarities (woodwork, doors, modern updates mixed with the old) and differences. Old homes have their quirks and challenges, but I love when the history and character shine through.

    Reply
  5. leigh
    leigh says:

    Thanks, Anne and Chris, for letting us take a peek into your beautiful home! What wondrous stories it could tell, and your family is continuing to make great memories there as well…..

    Reply
  6. Colleen Taylor
    Colleen Taylor says:

    How charming indeed Brittany. Thank you for posting this wonderful home & all it’s history and charm. Your beautiful photos and writing transported me right there. Thank you to Anne & Chris for sharing such a treasure.

    Reply
  7. Jo
    Jo says:

    Nice article and photos! I thought I should point out that the holes in the door are from thumb tacks, to hold up reminder notes (tape and post-its didn’t exist in the 19th and early 20th centuries).

    Reply
  8. Diane
    Diane says:

    I love how the English have flowers everywhere! When I was in Greece I noticed that every house, no matter how small or humble, had a place to sit outside and a pot of flowers. I am now going to paint my front door blue

    Reply
  9. Debbie
    Debbie says:

    They do have a lovely home. I adored the simplicity and homey comfortable feeling that the English just seem to have a knack for. And that patio area! Oh yes, I would enjoy that. I’ve always wanted to visit England. You’re lucky to have friends there.
    Debbie

    Reply
  10. Sara B.
    Sara B. says:

    We were in the UK a couple of summers ago and had the BEST time. I have been begging my husband to look for a transfer ever since. What a charming home your friend has!

    Reply
Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.