‘We've Created A Cosy Retreat'

Abi, 33, explains how she and her fiancé Chris, 40, fell for their Victorian terrace from the moment they stepped inside.

- Kathy Hurst

This house felt like home as soon as we walked into it,’ says Abi. ‘Everyone talks about that certain feeling you get when you find the right place, and we definitely had that here. We’d been looking to buy for about three years and began to feel disheartened as sale after sale fell through. Bristol is an up-and-coming area and there’s real competition for houses – with 18 bids on this one we had a fight on our hands, and were very lucky to secure it.

I love living here – there are wonderful independent shops and cafés and a beautiful park, perfect for long walks. There’s also a fantastic Christmas market selling gifts, cheeses and chutneys from local producers. I’ve always loved period properties, with their sense of history, their character and the stories behind them. The fact that many of the house’s features remained intact also really appealed to me and Chris. There’s the original coving and deep skirting, and a period fireplace in the living room where I’ll display candles and sprigs of foliage. I adore our bay window as it lets in so much light, and at Christmas I’ll hang wooden stars, so they’re visible from both the house and street.

Starting afresh