Recipe for a dream home

IT was on a freezing, snow-covered day in bleak midwinter that Paul and Janet Hollins first viewed Hazel Manor. The couple were familiar with the property – Janet’s brother had lived in Hazel Croft, the adjoining wing of the house – and they set off down the impressive driveway more out of curiosity than any intention to buy.

But once they viewed the beautiful Victorian manor house, in Killinghall, near Harrogate, they were enchanted. Neither the freezing temperatures nor the fact that the house was “in need of modernisation” remotely put them off. The smell of damp, the water-damaged floorboards and decaying ceilings could not hide the building’s enormous potential.

“It really was love at first sight,” says Janet.

“ For me, anyway. You know the feeling when a house just blows you away in spite of all the obvious problems.”

Previously owned by one of the large banks, the property had been empty for a couple of years and had suffered significant water damage.

It certainly needed a lot more than “modernisation”, but the couple were determined to turn it into the home and business of their dreams.

It took a year of planning, hard graft and stress, and exhausted their financial reserves.

But 12 months on, the major part of the renovation was finished – sitting room, hallway, kitchen, two letting rooms and the family’s personal accommodation.

The bed and breakfast has, after a recent inspection, been awarded the highest grading by Visit Britain of five star “gold” and the couple’s high standards and consistency have resulted in glowing reviews on Trip Advisor from their guests.

There’s no doubt anyone who has stayed at Hazel Manor will have been well fed. Before returning to her roots in North Yorkshire, Janet was a professional chef for more than 30 years, working across the globe alongside the likes of Marco Pierre White. After a period as sous chef at Rudding Park, Harrogate, she was still only in her 20s when she was appointed executive head chef at an upmarket holiday complex in Perth, Western Australia.

A warm welcome to the B&B

Aside from their seven-year Antipodean adventure, the couple, who have two children, Hayley and Frankie, have spent most of their lives living and working in the Harrogate area.

As well as being a chef, Janet is a sculptor; Paul is an academic.

“It had always been our intention, eventually, to open a small bed and breakfast, the kind of getaway-from-it-all place we like to stay in ourselves,” says Janet. “Hazel Manor offered me the perfect opportunity to combine both my passions, art and food.”

One of Janet's finishing touches

There was some way to go before Janet could bring her creative talents to bear on Hazel Manor, though. First, the entire water and heating system required replacing. Then, the renovation required reinstating many of the original features of the house and preserving the architectural detail that remained. Only then could they combine the Victorian aesthetic of the house with their personal contemporary art collection and Janet’s work in stone.

Set in its own grounds and constructed in 1857, the mansion was formerly known as Hazel Court and later Hazel Croft. In 1960, the property had been divided into two houses a flat and a maisonette. Hazel Manor consists of one of the houses and the flat combined, or just over half of the original floor plan of the mansion house as it stood.

Another of Janet's finishing touches

A search of the basement revealed many hidden treasures including a set of original brass candleholders that have now assumed a rightful place in the refurbished dining hall. A further search of the stables revealed a damaged Rayburn log fire which, after repairs by the local blacksmith, was reinstated in the main lounge. The lounge also came complete with an abandoned sofa, which was repaired, re-sprung and re-covered in a contemporary fabric and formed the foundation of the room’s design scheme.

The hand-built kitchen was repainted in Farrow and Ball Pigeon and the 1980s beech floor was replaced with a natural stone floor, extending into the spacious dining hallway.

Paul and Janet Hollins have put in a year of ‘hard graft’ to make the manor a comfortable home and awardwinning B&B

All of the design and most of the building and interior work were undertaken by Paul and Janet, and with six bedrooms and acres of space, it was no mean feat. Janet also spent many weeks at her sewing machine, making the soft furnishings. Despite the hard work and long hours, Janet says she has enjoyed working with the house, and most definitely views it as a collaboration. “It is impossible to ignore the house and the scale of it, and I almost instinctively knew what I wanted to do with each room,” she says. The overall atmosphere is one of calm and the colour palette is limited, which creates a flow throughout.

A reception room at Hazel Manor

Outside, the property has a number of outbuildings – an old coal store, stables and a garage, together with the old 60ft Victorian garden greenhouse and enough space to accommodate a studio for Janet’s sculpture. “In the summer, Paul likes nothing better than getting out the mower to perfect ‘his lawn’, while I look after the weeding and flowers,” says Janet. “My aim is to grow flowers to use in the house throughout the year.” The greenhouse has peaches, apricots, and grapes and is used to grow tomatoes for breakfast.

It would be nice to think the couple could sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labours, but there are guests to feed and water, and more plans in the pipeline. Hazel Manor still remains a work in progress. “The house captivated us,” says Janet.

One of the bedrooms at Hazel Manor

“And she hasn’t done with us yet. It certainly required a little more than ‘modernisation’, but all the serious problems have been rectified,” adds Paul “We feel honoured to be the custodians of such a beautiful house and enjoy sharing it with guests from all over the world.”

• Email hazelmanor1@gmail.com or call 01423-313877