Isobel gets hang of smaller house

May 18 2008 Raymond Hainey

Art lover Isobel Brooks wanted to downsize and move closer to her daughter - but keep the pick of her paintings.

So she traded in her traditional five bedroom bungalow for a new-build Doyle-style four-bedroom house - which gave her plenty of space for her and son Richard.

Isobel, 70, said: "We fell in love with the house because of its size.

"We had a lot of paintings and I needed space to hang them - I didn't keep all of them but the house is definitely big enough that I was able to keep quite a lot.

"And the double garage gives me plenty of space for my books and bookcases."

Isobel and leisure centre attendant Richard, 39, have a bedroom each, with the other two converted into sitting rooms - effectively giving them separate wings of the house.

Isobel said: "It seems ridiculous, the two of us in a big house like this but my son has a bedroom, sitting room and a Jack and Jill bathroom connecting the two, so it's like he has his own flat."

She added: "I liked the development but the layout of the house is really good.

"It wasn't a particularly large kitchen in my last home and you certainly couldn't eat in it, so it's a big bonus having a dining kitchen.

"There's also a really useful utility room which is handy for watering plants and it means mess doesn't get taken through the house if I've been working in the garden."

Retired health visitor Isobel decided to sell the family home of 40 years in Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, and move to the Bellway Homes King's Gait development in Kirkcaldy, Fife, to be nearer daughter Jillian, who lives with husband Andrew in nearby Cowdenbeath.

She said: "I was around a two-hour drive from them so it made sense to move.

"I like Fife very much and Kirkcaldy is a lovely place to live - I've got a dog and there are two huge parks here as well as a lot of open space and there are woods a short drive away."

Bellway Homes are offering a range of four-bedroom homes in different styles at King's Gait.

Prices start at £206,995, with a Doyle similar to the Brooks' on offer at £254,995.

Contact the sales office on 01592 266344 or visit www.bellway.co.uk for more details.