HONOURING THE PAST

A carefully considered colour palette has allowed the original elegance of Emma and Adam Carr’s Edwardian house to shine through

- Emma and Adam Carr

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The owners Emma Carr (@ahomeinthetropics), a primary school teacher, her husband Adam, an IT director, and their children Daisy, five and Henry, two

The property A four-bedroom detached Edwardian house in Cleethorpes, built in 1911

PROJECT COST Around £13,700

Not every house is bought with long-term intentions, yet the urge to put your own stamp on a property is still irresistible. That was certainly the case for Emma and Adam Carr, who bought a detached Edwardian home in Cleethorpes after spending five years working in Dubai. ‘We knew we wouldn’t be staying forever so all the improvements were done on a bit of a budget,’ says Emma. ‘I had lots of extravagant ideas, like wallpapering ceilings and using even more colour, but always had to rein myself in knowing we’d eventually sell.’

When the couple first returned to the UK with daughter Daisy, then one, they spent a year renovating their first home. The four-bedroom Victorian terrace had been rented out while they were abroad. ‘We renovated it to sell, installing a new bathroom and kitchen,’ says Emma. ‘Luckily it sold straight away to a family friend.’