MODERN RUSTIC

Michaela Shoebridge and her husband Lee have updated their dated 1980s bungalow to create a calm, relaxed home in the heart of Yorkshire

- ALICE HUMPHRYS

As first-time buyers we were keen to find a project we could develop over time, ideally in a quiet, rural spot,' says Michaela Shoebridge. We'd been renting locally for two years, keeping a keen eye on properties that were coming onto the market-and this four-bedroom bungalow, in the countryside on the outskirts of Hull, was perfect. We loved that the rooms were well proportioned and logically laid out on one level. It had a generous footprint, large back garden and bags of potential to extend and add value.'

The property had been built in the 1980s and although it needed updating, it wasn't in bad condition. The majority of the house had been decorated in magnolia, apart from a jazzy red kitchen! The layout had a cohesive feel, however, with all the rooms leading from an L-shaped hallway. One side opens into the living, dining and conservatory area, which has a central fireplace to create a divide between them, with the kitchen and utility room accessed from the dining area. On the other side of the hall are the bedrooms, study and family bathroom.

Unfortunately, we had a big setback while we were waiting for the sale to go through-the North had a severe cold snap and the water tank froze, causing the pipes to burst and flood the entire house,' explains Michaela. There was a lot of water damage which had to be addressed before we could think about anything else. Our priority was to remove the old water tank and replace it with a new combi boiler which we relocated to the utility room'. The main bathroom was re-fitted, with extra space created by the removal of the water tank, allowing for a shower and small bath. They also removed an old fireplace to reveal the brickwork, installing a double-sided log burner that serves both the living room and dining area.