Rising To The Challenge

Despite swearing not to take on a fixer-upper, Helen and Paul Jackson took the plunge

- Janet McMeekin

Having outgrown their chocolate-box semi-detached cottage, interior designer Helen Jackson was adamant the next family home would not be a building project. ‘With two children and busy lives, my husband Paul and I were determined to find a house we could move straight into, with the minimum of fuss,’ recalls Helen. ‘I love things to be neat and tidy, and the prospect of messy building work filled me with dread.’

However, best-laid plans often go awry, and in 2016, after hunting for a property in Buckinghamshire, and drawing a complete blank, Helen realised the only answer was confronting her fears. ‘We were very attached to our historic cottage and knew it would be hard to find anything that compared,’ says Helen. After many viewings, only one property held any appeal. ‘This thatched house ticked many boxes, including a large garden for Isaac, now 11, and Emilia, seven, to enjoy,’ says Helen. ‘Despite its tranquil location and wonderful views, I was worried. A renovation on this scale would be a massive project, and we agreed it wasn’t for us.’