DESIGNER LINDA BARKER LOVES ESCAPING LONDON TO HER YORKSHIRE BOLT-HOLE, BUT SHE ADMITS SHE NEEDS TO LEARN TO STEP AWAY FROM THE PAINTBRUSH

She's the queen of interiors, so it's only fitting that TV presenter Linda Barker should have not one, but two homes to get creative with.

At the end of a tough week, Linda, her TV executive husband Chris Short, 48, and 17-year-old daughter Jessica lock up their five-bedroom Victorian house in Dulwich, London, and make the four-hour journey to their weekend house.

Six years ago, the 46 year old decided to return to her Yorkshire roots (on her days off at least) and transform a four-bedroom cottage near the pretty village of Howden into her country retreat.

"The peace and quiet is the perfect antidote to London," she says. "I love escaping here – despite the long commute.

"We use it as much as we can, at the weekend and for longer breaks in the school holidays. I wouldn't give it up for the world!"

In fact, the Bradford-born star admits she'd love to live there full-time if it wasn't for her work because life is much more simple – and that's reflected in the house's style.

"I don't like anything fussy or ornate. Instead I've chosen simple, easy-to-clean worktops in the kitchen, mixed with traditional country furniture.

"I love cooking, so there are big meal times with friends and family piling round the table."

But she says creating her dream room wasn't easy. "The old kitchen was small and didn't make the most of the views.

"I wanted a huge room that could also be a living area and merge with the garden, so we built an extension with doors onto a patio.

"But the three months of mess was worth it. I love sitting here at night watching the sky, listening to the birds rather than the noise of the city."

The simple style of the cottage is perfect for Linda's redecoration plans too. "I'm always tweaking little things. It's a work in progress, but Chris doesn't mind."

But one thing she won't be changing is her neighbours.

"My sister Jill lives four doors down. I come from a big family and it's important for me to be close to them and for Jessica to grow up having that closeness to her relatives too. We couldn't have that in London."

Linda is backing Bradford City Regeneration, a £2billion regeneration programme.

1. TEAPOT ”The kettle is always on ready for a brew in my house. The first thing I do after a long walk is make a cup of tea.”

2. DISHES “I love this crockery, which I designed for the Linda Barker catalogue. Sadly, I have to buy the pieces myself – I don’t get them free!”

3. CHAIRS “Because these chairs are like garden furniture they make the kitchen flow into the garden.”

4. STONE PILLAR “I brought this obelisk when I went to the Middle East – I liked the shape of it and it filled the space!”

LINDA'S STYLE TIPS

• If you have space, put a sofa or armchair in your kitchen – it’s so inviting and makes the room less formal.
• Once you’ve got your appliances and units right, you can update the look by playing with paint and accessories.
• Don’t overlook lighting! Ditch the ceiling pendant, and install accent lights and use lots of candles.

 

Words: Sarah Ewing Photography: Peter Byrne Hair & make-up: Alex Bell at Catwalk Models Compiled by: Sally Gillam

 

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