Fairytale Ending

Philippa and Rupert Abrahams obtained a plot of land to build their forever house, but then had to wait seven long years to move in.

- Jessica Doyle

When Rupert Abrahams’ parents offered him a piece of land, he and his wife, Philippa, knew it was an opportunity to create the home of their dreams. And even better, expert help was at hand. ‘My sister, Tor Vivian, is an interior designer,’ says Philippa. ‘She knew our style, and understood what our family needed.’

Since the plot was located amid 150 acres of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Philippa and Rupert knew obtaining planning permission might present a challenge. They decided to knock down an existing one-storey structure, and commissioned Hugh Petter of Adam Architecture to design a modern version of the cottage orné – a Romantic-era rustic retreat.