DOWN TO business

Jessica and Matt's hands-on transformation of their flat resulted in a characterful home, and kick-started a new venture together

- ALISON JONES

The brave, new, post-pandemic world has brought about career changes for many people. When jobs were on hold and there were hours to be filled while staying safe at home, it was a chance to discover new skills, and take that leap into following a new passion.

Jessica left behind her job in advertising and emerged as an interior designer, after she and her photographer husband, Matt, used the life-pause of the lockdowns to go to work on renovating their newly bought two-bedroom flat in a Victorian terraced house.

'We always wanted a period property. We'd been renting around the Muswell Hill, Crouch End area, but it was very expensive to buy,' says Jessica. 'So we moved over the north circular to Winchmore Hill, which is like this village at the bottom of Enfield, with a real Hampstead vibe.

I wanted a home with character and history, and I loved the big bay window.'

Though the elegant period bones of the house were good, the interior was quite dated and lacked personality. The bedroom and living room were both large, but other areas felt cramped. Jessica and Matt had to find clever ways to create a feeling of space, including knocking a wall out under the stairs to widen their small hallway.