The Stephensons' home is a listed farmhouse at Brunstock where they have given free rein to their passion for interior design. The house is now a riot of colour with jewel-like red and rich purple and contrasting cool yellow, grey and peach, all offset by wooden floors, crisp white beams and sparkling lighting.

Kath, who works for the county council, said: "We'd seen the tower of the farmhouse from the motorway when we were driving past and we often wondered where it was.

"Then on day we went into Brampton for some chips and spotted it in an estate agent's window. We drove into Brunstock to look at it from the outside, made an appointment to view and that was it."

At the time, 1999, the property was on the site of a farm steading which had just been bought by Carlisle firm Allan Builders and was completely undeveloped.

The builder converted the barns and Kath and Howard bought the old farmhouse to bring up their children Matthew, Daniel. Hannah, Charlotte and Alice, who have since been joined by standard poodles Daphne and Humphrey.

It is a Grade II-listed property with the unusual addition of the tower that first drew their attention. They don't know what its original purpose was but what they did know was that the house needed gutting from the bottom up.

Kath said: "We carried out rewiring, replastering, a damp-proof course, new walls, ceilings, everything you could think of.

"I don’t know why it’s listed, I presume it’s for the tower – it’s unusual to have a tower in your house. It was blocked off when we bought the house and now we opened it all up and created a mezzanine platform and bi-fold window in the tower room."

Main reception rooms in Brunstock Farmhouse include the main sitting room, which has views over the garden and a multi-fuel stove, and a second reception room with latticed windows and an open fire. The rooms have beamed ceilings and are finished to a very high standard.

"We’re very interested in decor and both have a really good eye for colour and fine details," said Kath. "It’s not in a particular style, it’s in our style. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a showcase for interior design but our friends are all very flattering in their comments and everybody who visits is usually quite impressed."

The breakfasting kitchen is another lovely room and there's also a study and large utility leading to a patio area at the back of the house. Above the utility is a large loft currently used as a music room by Howard, who is a peripatetic music teacher.

There are five bedrooms, a en-suite master, three doubles and a single, and a bathroom which is full of stylish touches.

"My favourite room at the moment would be the kitchen because I spend most time there," said Kath. "It has a lovely feel, it’s always warm because of the Rayburn there, it’s got a big round table and I sit and read there, it just feels nice. Howard has the music room where he spends lots of time. He’s got drum kits, guitars and recording equipment and so on there."

Outside the small back garden has the patio area as well as a summerhouse, pond, fruit trees and a garage

"Well it's a barn really, with beams up to the ceiling," said Kath. "We just put all our bits and pieces in there but it could be a lovely room, it’s ripe for someone to make something special if they wanted to.

"Brunstock is quite private with plenty of access to open countryside from the doorstep but close to Carlisle. We’ve got the best of both worlds."