This house is the absolute epitome of a country cottage, surrounded by fields and trees and just oozing charm - it even has roses around the door and a traditional cottage garden. In fact, it's so very English that you may be surprised to discover that a New Zealander was responsible for it.

Debbie Banks was the guiding hand behind the transformation of a rundown single-storey property into the delightful two-storey home in the village of Cumwhinton near Carlisle.

She has lived there for the past 27 years with her British husband John: "The house was a wreck when we bought it," Debbie said. "It was a flat-roofed cottage and got an architect in and put on the upstairs extension. So the original cottage is 100 years old and the upstairs is 25 years old."

Debbie has a very creative streak. She likes baking, making her own fruit gins and originally trained as a florist. Plus the skills learned on an interior design course have been put to good use on the re-design of her home which has two reception rooms, study, utility and conservatory with two double bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.

"My favourite room is the conservatory but only because I love sitting out in the garden," Debbie said. "It's my favourite place and our garden is beautiful.

"I love my colours, shapes and forms. I’m passionate about colour - the garden has no yellow or orange in, the colours are pink, blue and white with a few dark reds. I designed it all myself – once I got rid of the 4ft weeds and sheds.

"We’ve totally revamped it. There are about 30 or so different roses in the garden, mainly climbing roses. I liked the cottagey look, very traditional.

"The views down the Eden Valley are amazing. And we have a lovely quiet aspect out the back, with fields and trees. We’re a little bit along from the Carlisle to Settle rail line - it’s not very busy but we do see steam trains go past at weekends, which adds to the atmosphere."

Debbie and John are moving to New Zealand as she wants to be closer to her family. "I'm probably due to retire but I won’t. I love furniture painting and I’ll do my flowers and probably do something for myself.

"We've been very happy here and want someone to come along and love our house just as much as we have."

Lonsdale Terrace, Cumwhinton, is for sale at £190,000 from PFK Estate Agents. For more details see here .