Alan's new 'project' has come on leaps and bounds since the last update. Two and a half years since his project began, he admits that his biggest challenge now is to 'finish off the little bits'.

The driveway to the house, which was once just a single track, is being transformed into a circular 'drive round' style - more in keeping with the country house style Alan has adopted. Not keen on just tarmac, Alan is adding gravel to give it more colour – something that worked well on a previous project.

One striking element to the house is the use of many windows to bring light and warmth to all rooms. For example, the lounge has six windows and the upper floor rooms use Velux roof windows to let in light to an otherwise dark area.

The house is tastefully and simply decorated in keeping with its style. All interior lights, from lounge to the dining area, are on dimmers to allow an unlimited number of light levels. For example, the lounge, which runs almost the depth of the house, uses wall lights and two chandeliers hanging from ceiling roses give a number of illumination options.

A feature throughout the ground level is the use of oak skirting. Although comparatively more expensive and slightly bigger than standard skirting, its effect is stunning when used in conjunction with oak interior doors and frames. "Using oak skirting means that I have little maintenance downstairs other than painting the walls, " said Alan, "I only wished I'd have used the same skirting for the upper levels too, but I can always do that at a later date".

The hall, dining room and conservatory run through the centre of the house from the front to the rear. Spanish limestone tiles run through all rooms and they also extend into the Kitchen and second living room, leaving the main lounge and office the only ground floor rooms using carpet.

Ease of cleaning is not the only reason tiles were chosen to cover the majority of the ground floor. Alan has installed OSMA underfloor heating which works better with a solid rather than carpeted floor. That said, Alan warns that if the temperature is set too high it will crack the tiles, as he has found to his cost. A wood cover, not too dissimilar to a radiator cover, neatly hides the heating controls in the Dining Room.

Having heard everyone sing the praises of underfloor heating, Alan is now a convert too. "I love it," he said: "It's absolutely brilliant. The heat is just fantastic. It's simple to fit if you follow the plan and it leaves all the wall space free."

Alan sent his ground floor plans to underfloor heating manufacturer OSMA, who returned a price quotation and a plan he could follow for installation.

As the house has many rooms and is on three levels, Alan was concerned he might need an 'industrial size' boiler. However, his 38 years in the plumbing and heating trade guided him to a trusted manufacturer and powerful condensing boiler, the Ketson C40. This emits some 140,000btu and fits Alan's requirements perfectly. Alan's knowledge of plumbing and heating also lead him to install a Pressure Tank for hot water rather than a roof tank. With two showers on the first floor and a Wet Room shower on the ground floor, the tank ensures excellent pressure even if all showers are being used simultaneously.

An impressive oak staircase, balcony and landing, with its hidden steel supports, lead from the Hall to the first floor and four en-suite bedrooms. Alan has varied the en-suite styles by making two of them shower-only and two bath-only. He has also themed the rooms in terms of the tiles and style of bath/shower used.

An additional small staircase leads to the upper floor and two more bedrooms in the roof arches. The use of Velux roof windows brings an enormous amount of light into these rooms and the shared bathroom.

Alan admits that his time in the trade has certainly helped him when choosing reputable tradesmen. Even so, tying everyone into a schedule of work was still a huge challenge and should not be underestimated. "Even though I'm a fellow tradesman, I was still let down on occasions without so much as a phone call to apologise," he said, "it can be highly frustrating."

So, with this project almost complete, would Alan tackle another? "Definitely. Even at my age. I've bought houses to renovate and sell, but never done a full build before. I've really enjoyed the challenge, and I am really pleased with it" he said.

Alan's advice to anyone starting out on a project is simple: do your homework.

"It took us 10 years to find and buy our perfect plot, and in that time we travelled to different shows and exhibitions to gather information and grab ideas. There are so many great ideas to help you," he said.

"When you're planning your build, be prepared with the finances, because nothing ever goes to budget and get as many quotes from tradesmen, merchants and suppliers as you can. Calling everyone will save you money and help you get the best value materials," he added.