WHEN Amanda Holland bought her period home in Golcar her goal was to overhaul the interior.

Out went the dated features, but one particular piece of the property’s history wasn’t going anywhere.

In fact the 44-year-old ended up designing a bedroom around the piece of furniture she inherited with her home.

Amanda, a design student, explains: “There was this huge mahogany dresser in one of the bedrooms, which the previous owner hadn’t been able to move because it was too big.

“It’s probably as old as the house, but I have no idea how anyone managed to get it up there – I couldn’t even move it across the floor.

“In the end I ended up designing the whole room around it, with more traditional features including a chunky four poster bed.

“It’s actually a lovely piece of furniture, in really good condition, and it’s nice to have inherited something that is a part of the house.

“But it’s a shame that when I move I probably won’t be able to take it with me.”

Amanda had always lived in older properties in the past, including a barn conversion and 1930s house.

She had broken away from type and purchased a new build, but soon reverted back to a more traditional style.

Amanda looked at dozens of properties over a year before she spotted a gem of a house in the Wellhouse area of Golcar.

She says: “It was tucked away down this little private lane, in the kind of place that’s really peaceful because nobody knows it’s there.

“I knew it was the house for me as soon as I saw it, it felt so private.”

The property, named Anthorp House, was built just after the turn of the century in 1903.

It was once the village rectory and a lot of its original features have been retained.

Says Amanda: “I do love older houses and this house was a lovely shape with big square rooms and high ceilings.

“It had some fantastic Victorian features. I particularly loved the two little stone faces above the front door, which are very unusual, and the sunburst stained glass window.

“The first time I walked through the door I thought it would be very easy to live in.

“Sometimes older houses feel a bit stark, but this one felt really warm and friendly.”

Amanda needed a interior to match her grand period home – which came with some superb views down the valley – so spent the next three years updating it.

The roof was repointed and an ensuite shower room and dressing room added upstairs.

A modern bathroom replaced the tired suite, the utility room updated and Amanda invested a small fortune in the new kitchen which boasts slick German units and LED skirting board lighting.

Amanda added: “The kitchen cost me a fortune. It was dated before and I felt it detracted from the property.

“Now it very sleek and adds to the flow of the rooms.”

Amanda found renovating the house awakened her creative flair and even inspired her to start a design course in Bolton, which she is now in the third year of.

She says: “I didn’t really have a specific interior in mind, I took each room separately and everything just pulled together.

“I’ve combined modern pieces with some traditional furnishings which really suit the features if the house.

“As well as the mahogany dresser, which is the house legacy, I’ve got an 1800s grandfather clock in the hall which came from a friend when they moved to another country.”

Amanda is selling her home to move up the property ladder, but says she will miss her idyllic life there.

She says: “It’s been the house that I’ve loved the most so far.

“I’ve spent three years working on the house and it’s like my baby so it will be hard to let go.

“But everything about it, from the views to the bright and spacious rooms when you walk in, is fantastic.

“It’s a house that sells itself.”

Anthorp House, Lower Wellhouse, Golcar, is on the market with Simon Blyth estate agents. Call 01484 651878.