Britain's Best Home - Terry George's castle crowned nation's favourite » Housing » 24dash.com

You don’t have to be from the North of England to design or own Britain’s Best Home, but it certainly doesn't go amiss, as proved by the winning team behind the coveted title.

Carr Hall, an extravagant castle near Halifax, owned by interior design millionaire Terry George and his partner Michael Rothwell scooped the prestigious award last night after Channel Five viewers voted it their favourite.

Mr George said: "It is like a dream come true because Michael and I come from very humble backgrounds.

"I grew up on a council estate in Leeds and Michael grew up on a council estate in Salford. We have gone from that to living in a house that's been voted Britain's best. People who drive up to it always say 'wow'."

With a business empire including gay dating websites and nightclubs, the couple have invited the public into their lives before.

After 20 years together, they were the first in Britain to have a civil partnership, attended by Sir Elton John. Mr George gave away thousands of pounds when he appeared on Channel 4's The Secret Millionaire.

Carr Hall, a 19th century Victorian folly, was brought to life thanks to young Leeds-based designer Ben Huckerby.

It’s a fantastic accolade for Leeds Met Graduate Ben, aged 27, who has already made his mark designing for Rick Savage from Def Leopard, along with a number of bars and clubs across the country, and a huge selection of dazzling home interiors for individual clients.

Melissa Porter, co-host of Channel Five’s programme and a leading design consultant, is already a fan of Ben’s work.

Melissa recommended the Yorkshire castle to the nation, having stayed over-night: “It’s the ultimate des-res...an enchanting historical home that sits majestically in the 21st Century!”

Co-judges of the competition, Russell Harris and Charlie Luxton have been equally wooed by the castle which boasts battlements, towers with arrow slits and arch head windows.

Ben, who is a big fan of re-injecting the old with a modern twist, dispensed with the original chintzy look, uncovered the carpeted flag-stoned floor and replaced a fussy design style with a classically modern look.

“I was in my last year of my degree course in internal architecture when I met Terry and Michael in a bar in Leeds,” explains Ben. “We got chatting about design and, by chance, they’d just bought Carr Hall Castle and invited me over to offer some design ideas.

“There were tapestries all over the place and it looked like an old museum! Unbelievably, lots of original features were still there but they’d been covered up.

"I recommended taking the walls back to the original brickwork and creating an opulent look with deep colours, dark wood and highly textured fabrics. I think it’s worked well,” said Ben.

Having established Ben Huckerby Design in Leeds, Ben has subsequently flown to Morocco to design Terry and Michael’s North African house and is on speed dial with a number of clients in his favourite cities: Barcelona, Prague and London.

He has quickly become a recherché interior designer, completing high-end residential projects for owner occupiers, an apartment hotel, show flats across the north and even a noodle bar. He takes inspiration from designers such as Kelly Hoppen, Philippe Starck and Andrew Martin.