'Around eight years ago, we wanted to move back to the village where I grew up to be near my dad, and Andrew saw the family of the previous owner clearing out this bungalow,' explains Louisa. 'He approached them and asked what the situation was. The elderly owner was moving into a residential home, and we were able to negotiate moving in at a very agreeable rent.'
The house, however, was in a terrible state, with a condemned oven and large staining on the carpets. So, Andrew and Louisa took the plunge and invested in a budget kitchen and replaced the carpets. 'We took the risk of refurbishing the kitchen for £1,200, picking up sections of units and worktop offcuts from a B&Q sale, which Andrew pieced together in his genius way,' says Louisa. If the rental had only lasted a short time, it would have been a big investment, but they continued to rent the house for seven years. When the previous owner sadly died, the family asked if we wanted to buy it, but they wanted cash, and fast.
Luckily, my best friend, who I met at the village school when I was four, had just sold her house and generously lent us the money,' says Louisa, who was happy to be able to stay in the home, and area, they had grown to love. 'It feels like everyone in the village looks out for your child. The quality of life here is so good and the properties are very sought after. I wanted the children to community I grew up grow up in the lovely in, with countryside all around.'
ENVISIONED IN 3D
この記事は Your Home の Decorating Special 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Your Home の Decorating Special 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Something to sip...Sloe gin
Make up a batch of flavoured gin now for delicious gifts come December
IS IT TIME TO SWITCH UP YOUR HEATING?
Rethink your home's heating system to make it more efficient and in keeping with its style too
ART display
Choose and hang art like a pro, like Kanza, with these tips for creating an at-home gallery on a budget
'We made our rental into a handmade home'
By buying up bargain leftover paint and making her own furniture, Kanza Borthwick has shown that you don’t have to break the bank to transform a rented new-build into a unique and beautiful home
FLORAL centrepiece
Add drama and colour to your mantelpiece with a showstopping floral arrangement like Callieanne's
Child's CANOPY
Create a magical hideaway for your little one with this easy-sew floaty canopy, like Holly's
I've used feel-good shades for a happy home'
Interior designer Holly Scott brought this plain new build to life with a carefully curated colour palette, statement artwork and gold accessories for an elegant look
Industrial shelves
Make practical log storage a stylish feature in its own right with this rustic shelving unit made from scaffold poles and boards, like Hannah's
'I'm so glad I took a risk on a bold wallpaper'
Hannah Hooper stepped away from safe neutrals in her living room, choosing a statement wallpaper in blue and gold as the starting point for her scheme
'My style is minimalist meets vintage chintz'
Wowed by the period features of her Victorian home, Callieanne Major has embraced all things traditional with a dramatic yet muted colour palette and floral art