A winter's TALE

A fortuitous meeting in an antiques shop on a winter day led to the perfect property for house-hunter and interior designer Martin Wharton

- JO LEEVERS

Three Christmases ago, Martin Wharton had come to Harrogate in North Yorkshire to view a completely different house, but at the last minute the estate agent called to cancel their appointment.

Martin consoled himself with a browse in a nearby antiques shop where he got chatting to the owner, before they were joined by a woman who was a regular customer.

'I mentioned that I was house-hunting and the lady remarked that she had a cottage that she'd been renting out for a few years, but the tenant was about to leave and she was thinking of selling up.' When she asked if Martin would like to see it, he jumped at the chance.