Innovative eco house
eco friendly,contemporary look,moving home,House Beautiful
Jarratt family in the kitchen of their eco home
One couple searched the world before finding their perfect home - an innovative eco-house that gives them a better quality of life.
Feature by Janet McMeekin, photography Carl Pendle
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Easy-to-make everyday changes to help you live a greener life - see our eco-friendly ideas special here
Property details
eco friendly,contemporary look,moving home,House Beautiful
Exterior of new build eco house
Type of house: Five-bedroom new build
Location: Bishop\'s Castle, Shropshire
Purchase price: £450,000
Money spent: Nothing
What it\'s worth now: Over £500,000
Reader homes
eco friendly,contemporary look,moving home,House Beautiful
Jarratt family in the kitchen of their eco home
Susan Jarratt, 38, lives with her husband Mark, 45, and their two children, Tom, five, and Lucy, two, in a new build on an eco village development.
Open plan
eco friendly,contemporary look,moving home,House Beautiful
Open-plan kitchen with french doors and table
Susan and Mark love their open-plan kitchen. The house\'s solar panels provide a free supply of hot water and energy-efficient appliances keep the bills low.
To protect the surface from spills, Susan covers the couple\'s Habitat dining table with a practical, wipe-clean tablecloth from John Lewis
Local materials
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Susan Jarratt sitting in the kitchen at the maple units
The contemporary maple units in the kitchen were chosen after a visit to the showroom of Kenton Jones, a local firm in nearby Welshpool. The splashback\'s glass tiles are from Fired Earth.
Lounge living
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Living room of the eco house
Bright red and orange cushions add a splash of colour to the living room\'s large and comfortable sofas from Sofa Workshop
The chair upholstered in a bright red fabric was a gift from Mark\'s parents.
Room to play
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Double-height glazed play area
Lucy and Tom\'s toys are kept tidy in the double-height glazed area, while the open-plan layout throughout the rest of the downstairs means they can still have fun riding their trikes and scooters.
Spare bedroom sanctuary
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Mark in the spare bedroom using laptop with guitar in the background
One of the five bedrooms is used as a second living room, upstairs. Mark and Susan use the space to relax and listen to music.
Stylish bedroom
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Light and bright main bedroom
The spacious main bedroom is Susan\'s favourite room in the house and boasts fabulous views over the village. An unusual curved walk-in wardrobe is a surprisingly discreet storage solution for Mark and Susan\'s clothes.
An elegant ensuite
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Sleek ensuite wet room with tiles by Porcelanosa
Mark and Susan\'s bedroom has an ensuite wet room. The couple were able to choose the tiles they wanted and found a range they liked at Porcelanosa.
Classic contemporary
eco friendly,contemporary look,moving home,House Beautiful
Classic but contemporary bathroom with modern roll top bath
Mark sourced bathroom tiles and a striking bath from Fired Earth. A modern twist on the classic roll-top, the bath provides a focal point for the room.
Primary colours
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Tom\'s bedroom with bright multicoloured rug
The Ikea rug in cheery primary colours provides a bold splash of colour in Tom\'s bedroom and is warm and cosy underfoot.
Copy the look
eco friendly,contemporary look,moving home,House Beautiful
Canvas with pop art style image
Recreate Susan and Mark\'s style with colourful accessories to add a personal touch to a light and airy, spacious home, click here...
Pop art Warhol (30 sq in), £71.95 including postage, www.photo-canvas.com.
Think your way to a better life
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