‘We gave it our PERSONALITY'

Victoria and Luke used their flair and imagination to bring Victorian charm and character to their four-bed terrace, and discovered some hidden gems along the way

- LISA MOSES

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Victoria Thomas, 32, and I work at Aldi. I live with my partner, Luke Morgan, 33, a qualified carpenter and plasterer, and our two children, Amber, seven, and Cole, nine. I share our renovation story at @ourwoodfield3storey.

MY HOME A four-bedroom 1920s terrace in Blackwood, Caerphilly. We moved here in November 2019.

WHEN WE MOVED IN It was plain, white and boring, but as a blank canvas it made it easier to see the renovation possibilities.

AND NOW We’ve added Victorian detail to every room and chosen a colour scheme that combines bold colour with neutral tones.

STYLE TIP Stick to a contained colour palette to add cohesion and flow to your home.

Luke and I had been living happily for 11 years in our rented bungalow, but it only had two bedrooms, and once the children came along, we knew we’d need something bigger,’ says Victoria. ‘We decided the time was right to buy a property we could turn into a forever home.

I get up at 4am most mornings for work, so didn’t want to travel far, and we wanted to stay close to the kids’ school. We initially kept just missing out on properties – we’d seen so many and lost out for various reasons, but in a way, I’m so glad, as it felt like this house was meant for us. And it was only a mile from our old home, which was a bonus.

Unwelcome discoveries