'All of our hand work has PAID OFF'

Taking their time at the planning stage of a major renovation gave Becks and Martin Huntley the chance to make the best use of their space

- KAREN WILSON

We almost didn’t view this house,’ says Becks, ‘as it was right at the top of our budget and three times bigger than our previous place. We’d bought a small terraced house in Leeds during our twenties before renting it out when we moved to London for eight years.

Then, when our first son Sam was born, we returned to Leeds and lived there temporarily. However, a detached house with a large garden was the ultimate dream. 

It had to be in the right location, near to good schools and within a certain radius of the hospital for Martin being on call as a doctor.

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Becks Huntley (@the_interior_ lens), 42, a market research freelancer and interior stylist (theinteriorlens.com), and I live here with my husband Martin, 44, an intensive care consultant, and our sons, Sam, 10, and Jacob, seven.

MY HOME A four-bedroom detached house in Guiseley, Leeds. When we moved in in September 2016, the house felt really dark and the downstairs needed reconfiguring.

AND NOW It feels much more spacious and light. I’ve used nature-inspired styling with lots of wood and natural materials.

STYLE TIP Put together mood-boards to help with your décor choices.

Looking ahead

This house ticked all our boxes but had been on the market for over a year and required some serious vision. It had been let out, felt really dark and the skirting boards had been chewed by dogs!