Ruth and Andy Preston found that adding contrasting colour was the quickest route to fixing bland decor
Ruth and Andy Preston didn’t have to look far when they began their search for a spacious new family home; they discovered a detached Victorian house with lots of character and plenty of outside space just a few streets away from where they were living. ‘It was a wrench to leave our old home, as our children were born there and it was full of special memories, but it was clear that we were going to need more space,’ explains Ruth. ‘When we viewed this house, it was full of great features, with original tiles in the hallway, large well-proportioned rooms and old school-style radiators. It was decorated beautifully, but it was quite neutral and that’s just not us. We planned to make it really contemporary.’
The first thing the Prestons did after moving in was decorate their son Jude’s bedroom, so he could feel settled while the rest of the house was in turmoil. ‘The idea was to finish one room before we started working on another,’ says Ruth. ‘We had to be pretty organised to juggle work commitments with three young children and a house renovation, but the best solution was to not think about it too much, and just do it.’
Luckily, there was enough downstairs space for the family to live in comfortably while the work went on around them. ‘We found it frustrating at times, but thankfully a lot of what needed changing was cosmetic,’ says Ruth. ‘We simply moved the furniture from room to room to accommodate the work. Some days we had no electricity, or no hot water, or we had to keep the children away from wet paint, but everyone was very adaptable.’
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2016-Ausgabe von Ideal Home UK.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2016-Ausgabe von Ideal Home UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Maximise Outdoor Dining Space - If your outside eating area is a little cramped, follow these tricks to make the most of what you do have
If your outside eating area is a little cramped, follow these tricks to make the most of what you do have. We asked a host of garden experts to share their top tips on making the most of a small space, whether you're hosting friends and family for a special occasion, relaxing at the end of the day or enjoying your morning coffee.
hometruths
KELVIN AND LIZ FLETCHER GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THEIR HOME
Fresh & delicious
Chicken traybake with garlic & cherry tomatoes
NATURAL habitat
KERRY HARRIS' EAST LONDON HOME IS A LESSON IN BLURRING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUT
"WE AREN'T traditional"
RACHAEL AND ALEX'S RELAXED FUNCTIONAL HOME IS A BLEND OF VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE, MID-CENTURY MODERN AND PALM SPRINGS SHADES
GROWING up
ARCHITECT ROB AND WIFE EMMA HAVE TRANSFORMED A 1970S HOUSE, GIVING.THEM MORE SPACE FOR THEIR FAMILY
The shortlist PARASOLS
Create a cool spot with these dazzling sunshades
Weekend decorator
CLEVER TRICKS TO MINI DECOR PROJECTS... WE ROUND UP THE SIMPLEST, QUICKEST WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE BEAUTIFUL NOW
The shortlist PICNICWARE
Everything you need for the perfect spread
PLAN THE PERFECT - Outdoor living room
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GARDEN BY CREATING A DEDICATED SPACE FOR RELAXATION, SAY OUR EXPERTS