Faced with poky, boxy rooms and chaoticcolourschemes, AnnaMoumtzidoutransformed this semi into a soothing space to come home to.
Having moved 12 times in 10 years in and around south London, Anna Moumtzidou and her fiancé Russell Barling were keen to put down roots. While walking on the Surrey Downs, they discovered Reigate and decided to make the move to this property in 2016. ‘Moving to the suburbs meant we could afford a bigger place, but still be commuting distance from work,’ says Anna.
The house was in a good general condition and completely liveable when the couple moved in, but had scope for improvement. ‘The rooms felt boxed-in, with separate living room, dining room and kitchen,’ says Anna. ‘I wanted an open-plan layout that felt spacious and full of light. The decor was bland and uninspiring, too, although there were a couple of wacky colours, such as the electric-blue hallway and the bright yellow main bedroom. But, overall, the house had a really nice feel to it and I knew I could make it home.’
‘We had to be sensible with our budget, so have tackled the house bit by bit, calling in tradespeople where we needed to, but doing what we could ourselves, such as painting walls and floorboards,’ she says. Upstairs didn’t need much work, but downstairs the plan was to knock through and create one large open-plan space and add bifold doors at the back.
Denne historien er fra November 2018-utgaven av Ideal Home UK.
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
Denne historien er fra November 2018-utgaven av Ideal Home UK.
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
Maximise Outdoor Dining Space - If your outside eating area is a little cramped, follow these tricks to make the most of what you do have
If your outside eating area is a little cramped, follow these tricks to make the most of what you do have. We asked a host of garden experts to share their top tips on making the most of a small space, whether you're hosting friends and family for a special occasion, relaxing at the end of the day or enjoying your morning coffee.
hometruths
KELVIN AND LIZ FLETCHER GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THEIR HOME
Fresh & delicious
Chicken traybake with garlic & cherry tomatoes
NATURAL habitat
KERRY HARRIS' EAST LONDON HOME IS A LESSON IN BLURRING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUT
"WE AREN'T traditional"
RACHAEL AND ALEX'S RELAXED FUNCTIONAL HOME IS A BLEND OF VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE, MID-CENTURY MODERN AND PALM SPRINGS SHADES
GROWING up
ARCHITECT ROB AND WIFE EMMA HAVE TRANSFORMED A 1970S HOUSE, GIVING.THEM MORE SPACE FOR THEIR FAMILY
The shortlist PARASOLS
Create a cool spot with these dazzling sunshades
Weekend decorator
CLEVER TRICKS TO MINI DECOR PROJECTS... WE ROUND UP THE SIMPLEST, QUICKEST WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE BEAUTIFUL NOW
The shortlist PICNICWARE
Everything you need for the perfect spread
PLAN THE PERFECT - Outdoor living room
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GARDEN BY CREATING A DEDICATED SPACE FOR RELAXATION, SAY OUR EXPERTS