The delightfully-named Christmas House in the village of Little Gomersal is one that you can't just walk by; you have to stop and look, because there is something about it that makes you pause.

I've walked past this house - or tried to - on a number of occasions. It's imposing, as most homes that are more than 200 years old are, but because it is crescent shaped it almost seems to smile at you... and you can't help smiling back.

It wasn't called Christmas House, at least not officially, when Michelle Grainger-Mead moved there 15 years ago.

She says: "It's rather a bizarre story. I was asked to come here from Wales and work for Fox's biscuits. It was like coming into a world of the unknown. Then I got a call from a colleague who asked if I wanted to share a house with some other ladies.

"I wasn't that keen on the area I was going to be working in and was in two minds whether or not to take the job. Then I saw Little Gomersal and thought I could live here'. Then I saw this house and thought I could live there'... and I did."

She rented a room in the house for six years but then it was put on the market and Michelle would either have had to leave it or buy it herself. She chose the latter and hasn't looked back.

"The house didn't have a name at the time, but a friend's grandmother said oh, does she live in the Christmas Carol house?'. Then a few people walking past said the same thing. It's funny, because I always took great pains to decorate the outside at Christmas. It's as if I knew that it was meant to be, so we called it Christmas House, because Christmas Carol House was a bit of a mouthful.

"I'd always had lots of ideas of what I would do if the house were mine and we've done virtually every room apart from the study."

Living there gave Michelle and husband Peter inspiration, and there were some very interesting discoveries along the way. "We found a massive basement. We had a little cellar, but thought there had to be more, so we lifted the carpet and found a trap door into a massive room, with plumbing and lighting. It really was a shock to discover all that room.

"We converted it into a play room for the children and put in a staircase. It also comes in handy as a guest suite.

The kitchen was gutted to make way for a country look. "It's an unusual-shaped room, so we thought we needed an unusual kitchen in very rustic colours," says Michelle.

"Next we did the dining room and then the main room downstairs. It was the first one you walked into and it felt like it was just a walkway through. Peter and I thought that what the room needed was a fireplace. Unfortunately it only had a flat wall, but there was a chimney breast on the floor above, so we built a supporting wall in the basement, and then a chimney breast above. Now it has a wood burning stove and is really cosy.

"Then it was the turn of all the bedrooms, and finally the blue lounge, which had lots of ornate plaster work, like you get on a Wedgewood plate. Now we call it the Wedgewood room and have put in a limestone and pewter fireplace, very much in keeping. Obviously we've done it in blue, which can be a cold colour, but here it's quite calming. It a very atmospheric room, which most visitors say is their favourite."

Time was definitely not of the essence when it came to decorating Michelle's favourite room, the master bedroom.

She says: "My favourite room is my bedroom. The first time I decorated I did it in a hurry and it was a disaster. So I took my time."

And she's not joking. "It took 18 months to find the right wallpaper and fabric, and nearly two years trekking around antique shops trying to find the perfect furniture, as I had an image in my head of what I wanted.

"After visiting about the 100th shop, I realised I was never going to find what I wanted, so I ended up sketching it onto a piece of paper and taking it to a bespoke carpenters. I wanted the bed made from reclaimed wood and managed to source some old railway sleepers. The result was a bit chunkier than I originally wanted; however, it still looks amazing.

"Occasionally, when I lie in bed at night - I know it is a bit bizarre - I wonder about what historic characters may have travelled over the sleepers.

"I just love the carpet, which feels like you are walking on air, and I now have a dressing table after sitting on the floor for 14 years to put on my make-up."

The family, which includes children Reuben and Poppy, loved their home all year, but especially at Christmas. "We go the last week in November to choose the Christmas tree and I like it to be a proper triangle shape. I always go for gold, cream and red for the decorations and it can take me an hour and a half to decorate the tree," she laughs. "I put the lights on at least three times to make sure they are perfect and then finish off with garlands and bows. We put green garlands on the fireplace and fill the house with cinnamon candles."

The outside, too, comes in for its fair share of decorations.

Michelle says: "When we bought the house it was open to the square, so we put in some wrought iron railings and box hedging. I get cuttings from my neighbours and make wreaths for the railings in spruce with red velvet ribbon, and a big one on the gate. The box pyramids are covered in tiny white lights and we put a simple wreath on the door in spruce with a dark red ribbon. I'm a big fan of the natural look so I use plenty of pine cones and dried poppy heads."

The family have reluctantly decided to downsize, but they don't want to move too far away because they feel Little Gomersal harks back to a time when life proceeded at a more leisurely pace and you knew many of your neighbours by name.

Michelle adds: "There aren't many areas like this. There's a real feeling of community spirit. The village green was left to the people of Little Gomersal by a Mr Sugden, who owned the land, and we've a strong village community. As well as the carol concert, they organise a traditional May Day fair and a summer picnic with music and a gazebo, and we do something on a smaller scale quite often.

"We feel as if we are part of a big family. I know about 50 per cent of the people in the village and everybody takes a great pride in living here. They may move around the village, but few actually leave. We don't want to move either, but it's time to let another family enjoy living in Christmas House."

Christmas House in Lower Lane, Little Gomersal, is on the market for £395,000 with Barkers, Birkenshaw, (0113) 2879344