COME ON IN!
ABOUT ME I’m Claire Douglas, 37, (clairedouglasstyling.com). I live with my husband Spencer, 40, and children Oscar, eight and Milo, three, in a 1960s three-bedroom detached house in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. We moved here in summer 2016.
MY CHALLENGE The living room was part of a 1980s extension; it had no central heating and the layout was badly planned. It felt like it had been just stuck on – it wasn’t the multifunctional family room that we needed.
MY WISH LIST We wanted to knock down the dividing wall to open the space but our budget couldn’t stretch, so we had to think of other ways to make it flow.
Although this house was in a poor state when we viewed it, we fell in love with its potential,’ says Claire. ‘The purchase process was tricky – it dragged on for over six months – and the stress just started there.
Our new home was an ex-rental and had been empty for ages. The boiler was beyond repair and the toilets didn’t flush! Basically, every room needed urgent attention before we could move in.
The work begins
We had a new boiler installed within days, and the bathroom refitted within a couple of weeks. Next was the kitchen, which we replaced within four months. After all that, it was a couple of years before we had the energy to tackle the other rooms.
Making progress
In December 2018, we started the living room by having bi-fold doors fitted. They instantly transformed the space, letting in natural light and connecting the room to the garden. A long column radiator was installed and we laid new flooring throughout the ground floor.
Denne historien er fra March 2022-utgaven av Style at Home.
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Denne historien er fra March 2022-utgaven av Style at Home.
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
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What's for DINNER TONIGHT?
These tasty dishes can be made ahead of time and saved for those busy nights when there's no time to cook
Something for THE WEEKEND
These chocolate desserts are perfect for dinner parties (or for a special treat if you've had a tough week at work)...
Plant bulbs now for A SPLASH OF SPRING COLOUR
Brighten your garden come spring with a two-tone display of tulips - autumn is the perfect time to plant up and get busy
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Bring order to your living space with hard-working storage that looks stylish too
How to plan KITCHEN LIGHTING
Achieve the perfect lighting scheme that's bright, hard-working and looks good
Try a speedy STYLE UPDATE
Give your home a seasonal revamp with fun tricks, treats and cosy touches
Clever decorating WORK YOUR WALLS
Want to use a blank wall space for practical storage or stylish display? These ideas will give you the best of both worlds...
Give your home an AUTUMN RESET
Make rooms feel toasty and warm with plush layers, earthy tones and cosy touches