PROFILE
THE OWNERS
Esther Pillans (@prettylittleterrace), an assistant buyer on the home and textile team at Very, her boyfriend, Lewis, an insurance claims handler, and their cats, Sassy and Suki
THE PROPERTY
A four-bed late Victorian terrace in Liverpool
PROJECT COST
£25,650
An older house was always on the cards for Esther Pillans. Growing up with parents who renovated homes - her dad was a builder - when the time came for her and her boyfriend, Lewis, to buy a property of their own, they wanted a period project they could put their stamp on. Living at home while they saved up meant they were in a great position to buy a four-bed Victorian terrace just around the corner from Esther's family home.
Helping the sale was the fact the house was on for a competitive price - despite the fact it was in relatively good shape. 'It had been empty for six months when we bought it, and rented out before, but it was in good condition, with a new roof and boiler,' says Esther. But it looked grotty, so was quite cheap. Everything was done already, so we wouldn't need to spend much money.'
Still, the house needed a facelift - starting with the kitchen, which was old and battered with drip marks and peeling wallpaper. The house had been empty over winter and smelt of damp, though there wasn't any to be seen. Esther and Lewis decided to combine the kitchen with the separate dining room to create an open-plan space, enlisting Esther's dad and brother - who is also a builder - to take the wall down. They also added two sets of French doors to the rear of the house, but the rest of the work was largely cosmetic including the dusty job of removing three layers of textured wallpaper from every room.
Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Real 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
Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Real 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
Side-return extensions
An efficient use of redundant outside space, extending to the side is the mart way to gain the extra room you crave and transform the way you live
Spa-style bathrooms
Prioritise self-care and put pampering on your daily schedule by taking bathroom design inspo from your favourite spa
Light & bright
Rachel's main requirements for her kitchen extension were a window overlooking the garden and space to entertain. We reveal how she made her dream a reality
Colourful kitchens
Let your personality shine with a style that makes you smile from that morning cuppa to dinner time. Don't be shy, go for bold
In the zone
Using clever design and planting, Pauline has transformed a blank canvas into an elegant, contemporary garden complete with social spaces, a cutting patch and a pond
Heart of the home
Faced with three living spaces and a tiny kitchen, Jo and Chris have devised a clever, broken-plan layout where the kitchen takes centre stage
Pre-loved treasures
Deborah has filled her south London home with character without breaking the bank, thanks to her smart shopping know-how and eye for a bargain
A new leaf
Dani Sandels embraced her passion for botanics and natural textures in the renovation of her family home, resulting in a space that delights the eye at every turn
A learning experience
Steph and James honed their home-improvement skills as they updated their old house and overgrown garden with help from family and friends -
SAGE GREEN
A calm, tranquil and fresh hue, our colour guru, Amelia, shares why you can't go far wrong with this nearly neutral