Do you know the difference between an orangery and a conservatory? I didn't, but I do now.

Colin Russell, who was responsible for building Bank Croft in Baildon, which has one, explains: "It's an orangery because it has a permanent roof which is part of the building; not a glass one, which would make it conservatory."

Life is a continual learning curve, both for myself and Colin, because building homes is in his blood, and each one has been a little different than the one before.

Born in Baildon, he served his apprenticeship as a stone mason in a local quarry.

"It had always been my ambition to build my own home," he says. "We lived in Leeds when I was first married, then we moved back to Baildon to a house overlooking the 18th fairway of the local golf club. Then we bought another house in the area and built an extension.

"After hearing about a plot of land in Hope Lane we built our first house there and stayed four or five years, then built another one - which once again overlooked the same 18th fairway, but further down near the clubhouse - before finally building Bank Croft.

"Each house has been different, reflecting how many children were living at home at that time."

Bank Croft has its own individual style and has been built in stone to a high specification, near to the village centre with superb views from the front across the Aire Valley.

Having started his own company in 1979, Colin supplied the stone for each home he built, acting as project manager.

"The plot leant itself to having one bedroom downstairs and two bedrooms and a study upstairs. The layout is slightly smaller than our previous home, because by now we only had one daughter living at home," he says.

"My wife, Christine, has a great deal to say on the layout. She likes the garage, utility and kitchen to work together. Then when we know where we'd like the rooms to be, we use a firm of architects in Ilkley, who do a superb job."

The layout of the house certainly flows, with a spacious entrance hall off which to the right is the dining kitchen, dining room and utility, while to the left is the lounge and master bedroom with its walk-in wardrobe and en-suite. Pulling the lounge and dining room together is the orangery with its covered terrace outside.

"The orangery is my favourite room. It's lovely to sit here or on the terrace outside during the summer. With both my wife and I in our 60s, we didn't want the gardens to be too large, so we use the courtyard a lot."

The roof is blue slate which, like the stone which makes up the house, came from a demolition site.

"The slate was from a site in Huddersfield, and it can't have been very smoky there because they were quite clean; but they do have corners off and punch marks on the face which gives them their own personality."

Throughout the house it is easy to see that someone has paid great attention to detail, with French polished doors, architrave and skirting boards together with high quality fixtures and fittings throughout.

The house is reached via electric gates which lead to a Yorkshire stone flagged parking area with room for several cars, and then onto the attached garage. Inside there is a hallway with galleried landing and an elegant lounge with oak fire surround with cast iron insert and coal effect gas fire, and a large bay window from where there are stunning views.

Looking out over the marble tiled covered patio, the dining room has twin glass doors into the orangery as well as into the hall.

It's obvious that Christine had a hand in designing the kitchen, which has a range of quality units with glass panel displays, granite worktops and white enamel pot sink. There are enough integrated appliances to gladden the heart of any cook - including fridge, dishwasher, cooker with large under oven and ceramic/halogen hob and cooker hood. An added bonus for any new owner is that the floor is to be recovered with marble tiling, which will also run through to the utility room.

You could spend a lot of time in the master bedroom just gazing at the ever-changing views across the Aire Valley. As well as a walk-in wardrobe, there is an en suite bathroom with marble floor and ceramic tiled walls, and a white four-piece suite that includes a walk-in shower cubicle.

On the first floor there are two bedrooms - on of which has an en-suite shower room with mosaic tiled walls and floor - a study and the family bathroom, also with mosaic tiled walls and floor.

As Colin says, the gardens aren't huge but they are nicely planned with a south-facing area at the front, screened with mature hedging, plus a good sized lawned area. There is also a rockery and side borders, Yorkshire stone flagged patio a raised garden to the side with water feature.

"There's always been something about each home I've built that I missed, and here I think it will be the views," Colin admits. "And the garden is a lovely place to sit out.

"Now both our daughters have flown the nest, we are looking to downsize. We're on the lookout for a piece of land in Baildon for our next project, or a bungalow that could be altered to suit out tastes."

Colin has this piece of advice for any would-be builders: "Take notice of your wife, especially when it comes to the layout of your home, because they know best how a house works."

Bank Croft at Bank Crest, Baildon, is on the market for £635,000 with Dacre, Son & Hartley, Baildon, (01274) 532323.