I MET the simply delightful June Burton at her home in West Bridgford this week and, as she talked through her interior design influences and the happy memories wrapped up in this family home, I could see exactly why the house felt so welcoming and warm.
June and husband Clive, now both aged 80, have lived in this house for the past 34 years. They've raised their three daughters here, welcomed grandchildren, had some fabulous family parties, and certainly had the space to do it all in.
This really is a case of the exterior of the house belying the extent of the internal accommodation.
For instance, June's favourite room, the lounge, is 27ft in length, then there is a good-sized dining room, a kitchen and a breakfast area, as well as a garden room overlooking the fabulous rear garden, an entrance porch, a hall, a downstairs cloakroom, utility and a garage.
Each room is individual with June's interior design background and the couple's extensive travels evident throughout.
The lounge is a prime example of this. Deep reds, polished wooden flooring, well placed rugs and individually design sofas with fabric from Liberty's all create a warmth and grandeur to the room.
This large room opens into the sun room, creating an extensive living space, which June says is great for a family and for parties.
"Clive's family is very big and spread out, so I instigated an annual 'grand family bash', which we have held here every year for 25 years until very recently, when my niece took it over for me – 42 relatives from as far as Argentina, the south of France all converge – it's wonderful," she said."
The couple, originally from Leeds, decided to move to Nottingham when they returned from living in Israel.
Clive, a lawyer, was working within a university out there, but the couple returned to the UK when June's parents became ill.
June said: "We didn't want to go back to living in Leeds, but we did want to be in a location close to the motorway so that we could visit my parents easily. Friends lived in Nottingham and it was they who suggested the city. The nice thing was that a couple of years later my parents moved here, too.
"We found this place within two weeks. We had seen 15 houses in that time but nothing that we really liked; then we were driving along the end of the road and I said to Clive, 'I have this address on my reserve list'.
"At that time there was a phone box at the bottom of the road, so we rang the agent and within 15 minutes we were viewing. As soon as I saw the lounge, well that was it. I knew it was for us. The girls said 'Mummy what if upstairs isn't as nice?' but by the time they came down they'd bagged their rooms."
June added: "We hadn't brought our furniture back to the UK as it wasn't practical. When we moved in we had a coffee table and two chairs from my mother's bedroom.
"I remember our first major purchase was for the bedroom furniture. A shop in Nottingham was having a sale and I tasked each member of the family to find an item – one beds, another desks and so on and £400 later we had totally furnished all the bedrooms."
There are four bedrooms, today one is used as an office and library, and the master bedroom has a wide walk-in wardrobe as well as double vanity units.
The family settled into LIFE in Nottingham. Clive opened his practice, Burton and Burton solicitors in the city and June got a job with an interior design company.
But the family never lost their taste for travel. Looking around the house, there are artefacts from Egypt, Thailand, Nepal, Bali, and gifts from Iran.
They all have their place, and yet there are also items like a stylish modern fireplace in the dining room, modern bathroom suites in both the family bathroom and shower room, and in the kitchen an Aga and various appliances alongside bespoke units with granite working surfaces that were fitted just four years ago. All these eras and styles blend to give the house personality and style.
The garden is June's pride and joy. In addition to the mature trees and shrubs, there are patio and seating areas, a lawn, a fishpond, even a little summer house tucked away out of sight which is called Tiggers. It really is a little oasis.
June said: "We've been very happy here but this house is really for a family."
She says the location is ideal, with a real sense of community.
"We have a wonderful neighbourhood watch scheme which also organises a variety of events from garden parties to skittles and puds and poetry evenings."
Now the couple are looking for a smaller property. So, if you're looking for a family home, the Burton's invite you to view theirs.
Clive said: "June's ideas and initiatives have made our home the lovely warm home it has long been for our family and a virtual paradise of comfort for visitors.
"June has enjoyed having designed and used what I regard as our dream. I look forward to welcoming potential purchasers."
