Katy and David Green took a hands-on approach to make this neglected schoolhouse feel like home.
Curiosity led Katy Green and her husband David to go along to the auction of this old schoolhouse. ‘David was wearing a bobble hat so every time he nodded to bid the bobble would bob up and down,’ says Katy. ‘Finally the man said, “Sold for £150,000 to the man in the bobble hat!”’ An immediate deposit was required, and a few frantic calls to the bank secured a loan – and the house.
But what they bought was a far cry from either the original school or the home they now live in. Outside, there were three prefabricated huts spanning 30 metres, plus a huge car park. Inside, the space had been carved up with stud walls and false ceilings, hiding the original architecture. Despite all of that, Katy immediately saw its potential. ‘It had an institutional feel, which I actually really liked,’ she says. ‘And I liked the weird scale, too – from the front it’s this cute little house, but once you get inside, its full size comes as quite a surprise.’ Although they managed to secure planning permission, because it was a ‘change of use’ they couldn’t get building regulations sign-off– or a mortgage – until the end of the project. Luckily, a bridging loan from their family saved the day.
Denne historien er fra September 2019-utgaven av 25 Beautiful Homes.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra September 2019-utgaven av 25 Beautiful Homes.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
NATURE'S colour scheme
Interior designer Charlotte Thomas has transformed a centuries-old country house into a haven of charm, with hues that are in harmony with her personality
SPECIAL BLEND
Marcus and Eliza Waring’s captivating new build combines modern style with Georgian charm
Southern belle
Interior designer Michael Mitchell breathed new life into y a home in South Carolina with colour, art and antiques Lan
LOFTY AMBITION
Bespoke joinery and a light palette were used to maximise the space in this cosy bedroom under the eaves
Modern CLASSIC
Interior designer LeeAnn Baker has infused this elegant new-build waterfront home with a sense of history and a welcoming atmosphere
European VIBES
Italian and French mid-century pieces, exquisite marbles and a calming palette of blues and greens lend an international flavour to a historic apartment in Stockholm
A return to grandeur
An extensive remodel has given this 1990s home fabulous character, with designer Jeffrey Neve’s eye for fresh colours softening the space
SHEER GLAMOUR
Eleanor and Ollie Bowmer gave their new en suite the five-star treatment with luxe finishes and a statement bath
Relaxing RUSTIC
Designer Claire Garner has concocted a warm and welcoming interior scheme that perfectly complements the oak beams of this modern Tudor-style home
The little house of CALM
Sue and Jonathan Eley turned a timber cabin in a beautiful secluded New Forest setting into a luxurious country escape