A collage to treasure

Kirstin Eriksson has transformed her Cotswold property by taking it from a neglected cottage to a perfect family home packed full of clever design ideas

Located in an incredibly pretty Cotswolds village, a late-Victorian stone cottage attracted Kirstin Eriksson from the moment she saw it. "There was rising damp and nothing was in working order," recalls Kirstin, who was keen from the very start that none of the charm and character of the property should be lost in the process of making it suitable for family life with her nine-year-old twins.

While it was clear that the cottage, as it stood, would not be ideal for a family, Kirstin had plenty of ideas for sensitively adapting and extending the space. Despite working full time, she still managed to get involved in the design process.

"At the time, I was working in the city and didn't have time to design the layout, even though I love architecture and interiors," explains Kirstin, who has since set up Inside Out Interior Design. However, finding an architectural firm that understood her vision for the property wasn't easy.

HOMEOWNER Kirstin Eriksson

LOCATION Gloucestershire

SIZE 140m2

BUILD TIME Eight months

CONSTRUCTION Cotswold stone

HOUSE COST £410,000 (in 2014)

BUILD COST £200,000

VALUE £850,000+

WORDS Natasha Brinsmead

PHOTOGRAPHY Oliver Graham

"What is quite funny is that some of the proposals from architects were very nice but just didn't take into consideration the original cottage - how we would use the space and that it needed to be suitable for family life."

CREATING A FAMILY HOME