‘I’ve found my FOREVER HOME'

Inviting family and friends to stay at her 15th-century country retreat on the Norfolk-Suffolk border is a dream come true for Laura

Relocating from London, we struck it lucky when we spotted this farmhouse and cottage for sale,’ says Laura. ‘It’s in a really pretty village with stunning views of the Waveney Valley, not far from where James grew up. The two buildings were originally part of the Gawdy Hall estate – they would have been the farmer’s dwelling with the cattle sleeping downstairs!

Our property is set next to a 15th-century church and it’s really tranquil; exactly what we’d been dreaming about. I was pregnant at the time and fed up with the daily commute to work – we wanted the peace and quiet of the countryside.

Moving in 

Funnily enough, a friend of mine had originally sent me a web link to view this place as an example of how to make a period-style home look modern and fresh. Months later, when I fell pregnant and our house hunting began properly, we came across it a second time as it was still on the market. The previous owners had undertaken a two-year renovation programme, restoring lots of original features, including the stone floors, and turning the cottage into a holiday let, which suited us perfectly.

We were handed the keys during a sweltering August heatwave and the twins were born three weeks later. On moving day, I was aching from head to toe with heat and pregnancy exhaustion and we had our first guests arriving to stay in the cottage on the same day. I had to leave all the unpacking to James and our families – all I could do was sit and direct everyone to which rooms to put all the boxes in! Our lovely neighbours were so kind and when the boys were born, Sarah delivered a care package with homemade jams and lovely things to eat.