‘Our new build is now SO INVITING'

Buying a property that’s a blank canvas has allowed Daniella and Michael to skip the stress of tackling a renovation and jump straight into the fun of decorating

- KAREN WILSON

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Daniella Keating, 28, a marketing executive for a house builder. I live here with my partner, Michael Sekhon, 29, a social media manager, and our dog, Rupert.

MY HOME A new build, four-bed detached house in Leicestershire, which we bought in May 2020 (@ freshlypressedhome on Instagram).

WHEN WE MOVED IN It was a blank canvas with a neutral kitchen and bathroom that had already been chosen by the developers.

AND NOW We’ve decorated in a boho style, with upcycled furniture. I’ve added colour, botanical prints and hanging plants in most corners.

STYLE TIP For a gallery wall, I start with a statement piece in the middle, then add random pieces around it so you can expand it as you go. The jumbled look works for me!

We were able to skip a rung on the property ladder when we bought this four-bedroom new-build detached house,’ says Daniella. ‘Our first home together was a two-bedroom house in South Leicestershire built by the same developer, William Davis Homes. As we’d been happy with the quality and knew what to expect, we were keen to see their other development six miles east of Leicester.

The outlook at the front with views over fields was something we hadn’t found anywhere else and my best friend lives nearby in the next village. We really loved the ground-floor layout with a living room, kitchen, snug and dining room, which could be turned into an office, while the big garden was a bonus too. Everything just added up.

New-build benefits