It was a short trip for the removal van when Mary and Nick Howe sold their small semi in Redcar to buy a larger house on the same road. 'My husband wanted a detached house that we could rip apart and do from scratch ourselves,' says Mary. 'But we loved the area, so didn't want to move far.'
Although it was 12 years ago, Mary remembers the viewing well. It was freezing and I noticed the curtains were blowing on the inside, as the wind was coming through the windows,' she says. "The walls were covered with lining paper and there were Artex ceilings everywhere, but it had a lovely feel.'
While Mary was heavily pregnant with their first son, Fyfe, the couple lived amid the chaos of a major renovation. As well as a new roof, windows and central heating, the house was re-plastered throughout and given a new kitchen and bathroom. However, after living in the house for eight years, the pair had become frustrated with the layout.
'Originally, we thought the shape of the house was unique, but once we'd had a baby we realised we wanted practical, not quirky,' says Mary. 'When I was cooking in the kitchen and the kids were in the living room, I was constantly running between the two and the space didn't really work.'
MAXIMISING SPACE
After looking at other properties in the area and realising that nothing met their needs, the couple decided to remortgage and knock together the galley kitchen and dining room.
A flat-roofed sun room was also knocked down and incorporated into the new openplan space, which extends a metre beyond the existing foundations. 'A metre doesn't sound a lot, but the builder said it would make a big difference and it really has,' says Mary.
Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Your Home.
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Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Your 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
'Our dream home was three years in the making!”
Temi Lorant and husband Eugene made sure not to rush into renovating this run-down semi, taking years to plan the perfect extension and a put-together decor look
'I added homespun charm to this Victorian terrace'
Inspired by working in National Trust properties, Mel Green has filled her home with heritage colours, vintage furniture and handmade accessories
'I decorated this house twice to find my style'
Kayla Reynolds initially followed trends to decorate her new build, but soon realised she preferred the classic country look, so gave every room a timeless makeover
8 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE UPGRADING YOUR WINDOWS
Give your home kerb appeal while making it warmer and more energy efficient in time for winter by tackling old or outdated windows
Hot Summer patterns
Heat up your schemes with four ways to use this season's trending prints
Cafe culture
Unleash your inner barista and serve up the cafécore aesthetic in your kitchen
Foliage chandelier
Give your dining area wow factor, like Sarah, with this striking yet simple faux foliage and LED candle chandelier
Southern cider
Wow at your next summer party with this easy-yetimpressive cocktail. It has mellow whiskey flavours and a lively finish from lime juice and sparkling cider
In your garden THIS MONTH
Pull up a garden chair, breathe in the glorious scents of summer and plan of all the gardening tasks to complete
'I doubled my living space with an outdoor room'
Sarah Brooks swapped a dilapidated shed for a showstopping open summerhouse, decked out with stylish home comforts to bring the inside out