Simon and Linda Duxbury had a state-of-the-art £10,000 Germany underfloor heating system put into their self-build home, but Simon admits: "We've lived here two years and we've never switched the heating on.

"We just use two heated towel rails in the bathrooms, and that keeps the house cosy," he laughs.

So what keeps this four bedroom home cool and comfortable in summer and cosy in winter? The answer is polystyrene!

It only took months to construct Lavender Lodge rather than the year or more it can take developers to create similar stone constructions using traditional brick-laying techniques.

It's eco-friendly too, so that's another box ticked in favour of the environment, and the saving on household bills because of the product's heat retention will appeal to many in the midst of energy price rises.

"You can't see the polystyrene construction," says Simon. "Externally it's disguised by neutral-coloured eco-friendly rendering while internally it's covered by plaster and paint."

While polystyrene is extremely light, no wolf is going to come along and huff and puff and blow this house down because the lightweight block components which lock together are in-filled with concrete.

In essence, what you have is a concrete bunker wrapped in polystyrene. It's hurricane proof and fire proof too.

In truth, there is no way that by looking at the exterior of this home that you could guess what you are going to find inside. But they say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover - and that is certainly true of Lavender Lodge, affectionately known by the Duxburys as the foam house' since a colleague visited while it was still under construction.

Simon and Linda wanted their home to be different from the norm, and it certainly is that. They also wanted to create the wow' factor, and the installation of concept gizmos and gadgets - the cool interior styling, tiled and wood floors and rough textured plastering indicative of Spanish hacienda living - have made it mission accomplished.

On the face of it, Lavender Lodge is a conventional, albeit eco-friendly family home with concrete foundations and floors, uPVC windows and doors and a reconstituted slate roof.

Downstairs the accommodation is arranged around leisure and entertainment. The use of space is specifically designed to meet the demands of modern living, with the first room a rather glam games room. "The games room is my favourite space - a games room full of boys' toys," says Simon.

The blue topped pool table coordinates with the funky and reflective blue neon Quench' bar; a modern home must-have Simon and Linda sourced through industry exhibitions.

"Home bars are back in, though not the velvet ones with the Mateus Rose bottle on top, because everybody is entertaining at home these days," Simon adds.

Also in the leisure suite is a plunge pool with exercise/wave machine. Imagine plunging into a polystyrene pool, designed to keep the heat in like the couple's home or bathing there under tiny starlights illuminating the retro looking black vinyl ceiling that Simon says has been widely used in bars and restaurants on the continent for more than a decade.

Next to the gym is the tastefully-styled house bathroom with tiled step into a large corner bath. There's a guest bedroom with en-suite featuring mood colour-changing lighting, and a clever under-stairs cupboard which reveals a cosy office.

Just to prove that the house isn't totally devoid of brick, there's a feature wall in the stairwell and a wall and island in the country-style living kitchen, which is open to the rafters. Here a black Aga and dark granite work surfaces bring depth of colour to light pippy-oak units.

This is Linda's preferred space - the heart of the home. "I don't really have a favourite room, but we probably spend more time in the kitchen because it's so cosy," she says.

There's plenty of room here for a snug/TV area, dining and seating area, but if that isn't enough there is also a galleried landing and sitting area with pine panelled vaulted ceiling and exposed beams.

On one end of the landing is the Gothic style main bedroom with walk-in wardrobe leading to an en-suite, with another bedroom at the far end of the roof space.

This is a very versatile home-building product and the ease with which you can create a dream home has increased its popularity, and not only among self-builders.

"Not only is it a quicker way of building, you don't need so much skill. I'm convinced it's the way ahead for the big boys - the major developers. By 2016 they have to meet higher insulation targets, so they are already doing tests," says Simon. "One day it could be coming to a cul-de-sac near you."

Lavender Lodge has a low maintenance garden, tarmac driveway and built-on single garage.

For a house that started off life as a boring dormer bungalow, it's come a long way and become a big part of the Duxburys' lives, both as a project and as a home.

"It's an achievement, isn't it?" says Simon proudly. And you can't dispute that.

Lavender Lodge at Highfield Mews, East Morton, is on the market for £575,000 with Carter Jonas, Leeds, (0113) 2031090.