Barbara Lynch and husband Michael had looked round dozens of homes before they set eyes on this converted schoolhouse in Braybrooke, near Market Harborough.

The building, which dates from 1909, was the village school for six decades and has been transformed in a charming home with bags of character and style.

"It suited everything we wanted," says Barbara. "We had seen so many houses that were just not right, we knew we could do something with this."

They soon set about transforming the property, adding their own touches to the bedrooms and creating the warm and welcoming farmhouse kitchen. Some of the features, such as the lovely old cast iron spiral staircase, were there already, reclaimed by the previous owner from a Leicester factory which was being knocked down.

"It really makes the room," said Barbara. She's right: the eye-catching staircase which leads to a beautiful galleried library is a real feature.

The living room, one of four downstairs reception rooms, used to be the school classroom. It's spacious (20ft x 17ft 10ins) and has a high ceiling, exposed beams, chandeliers and stone fireplace with wood burning stove.

The living room leads to the inner hall, from where you can access the master bedroom and en suite downstairs, kitchen, family room, study and dining room.

The kitchen, which has a Rayburn, farmhouse-style table and a beautiful antique dresser, overlooks the garden. This is a relaxing, landscaped space with decking – the perfect sun trap, says Barbara.

As the garden is walled on all sides, it creates a sheltered environment for plants: "We always had snowdrops and daffodils before anyone else," said Barbara.

The garden backs on to a field and then open countryside beyond. There is a courtyard to the front with triple garage and a range of outbuildings.

The unusual layout of the house means there are two sets of stairs – one, the spiral staircase leading from the living room through to the library, and two bedrooms. A second staircase from the inner hall leads to a loft, children's play area, bathroom and a fourth bedroom.

Their home stopped being a school in 1972, and Barbara still meets those in the village who were its former pupils.

She added: "Braybrooke is a really nice area, the village is the kind of size where you get to know most people and there's enough going on to keep busy."