In tandem with the spacious kitchen runs a snug little sitting room, with French doors opening outward into what will later be a conservatory. This arrangement is perfect for young families - anyone working in the kitchen has a full view through a glazed door of what the youngsters are up to, and small children can be reassured without having to come through into the area where cooking is going on.

'More and more people are asking for this type of family room', says James.

The oak flooring of the lounge flows seamlessly into the hallway, but the stairs are covered with a Wilton carpet supplied and fitted by Magic Carpets of Foxdale.

A grand shelving arrangement was built by The Village Workshop of Laxey. 'It was basically built to house a bargain set of Encyclopaedia Britannica which we picked up for £400 in a motorway service station - but it's useful for my rallying trophies as well', adds James modestly. He has a very large number of them.

He enjoys adding detail to his house designs and points out with pride the reeded architraves on the doors here, with small carved rosettes at the corners. 'It costs almost nothing to have these little differences', he says, 'and I think it gives the place a lot more character'.