40 homestylemag.co.uk
My story...
We were looking for our first home together and
wanted a project that would not be too big or too
small. This house was just right. It was a probate sale,
empty for about four years and in a terrible state. I
will never forget the sight of wallpaper spilling down
the hallway walls like some sort of horror movie.
There was mould in the bathroom, the kitchen
hadn’t been changed since the 1960s and the
garden was completely overgrown. When we first
got the keys to the house, I really questioned what
we had done – it was even considered unsafe by the
council, so we moved in with my mum and stepdad
for four months while the messy work was carried
out. We began by completely gutting the house
with help from my dad and uncle, ending up with
a blank canvas to work with. We’re both very strict
with money and kept to a strict budget, with Adam
and I doing much of the work ourselves, including
sanding and painting. I was desperate to restore the
original roll top bath in the bathroom but despite
trying, it couldn’t be salvaged. Neither could any of
the windows, bar the stained glass windows and
original front door – which after two days of sanding
and restoring, looked even more stunning. I’ve
loved interiors since I was a child, so this project
has fulfilled my childhood dream. While I love and
work with interiors, Adam comes from a corporate
background and has no real interest, and didn’t even
know what kitchen we were having until the day it
was installed. As the project evolved he got more
involved. We were surprised how smoothly it ran
and it’s made us want to do it all over again!Hope has dressed her sofa with colourful pastel
cushions and a faux fur throw to add textureStyle idea
A statement
plant will
brighten up
any corner
Living room
Once the old carpet was lifted, Hope
realised that the floorboards were
rotten and all needed replacing –
engineered wood flooring was then
laid. When it came to planning the
layout, they opted for two sofas from
Sofology to frame the room, making
it cosier. ‘We added side lamps, as
I don’t like stark, bright lighting in the
evening, and a log burner, which
is Adam’s pride and joy. It really is
our chill space,’ says Hope.