After spending eight years living in our two-up, two-down in Staines, Surrey, my partner Colin and I decided it was time to pool resources and buy a home together,' says Jane. 'We were keen to invest in a place that we both loved and could make our own.
There were a few must-haves when we began our search - the property needed to be near our workplaces, as neither of us wanted a long commute.
Colin, as a keen gardener, wanted outside space and we both agreed we'd like to buy a house that needed modernising but was in a good enough condition that we could move in straight away and renovate at leisure.
Successful search
Luckily for us, the stars aligned and we found a perfect detached house in a charming little village in Surrey. It was only a short drive to where we worked, was surrounded by lovely countryside, had some fantastic pubs and importantly, there was a lovely community feel that Colin and I instantly picked up on.
The house had been a well-loved family home with nice sized gardens and bright, well-proportioned rooms. Colin and I love colour and pattern, and although the neutral decor and plain kitchen and bathrooms weren't to our taste, the property was in great condition with scope to turn it into something fabulous.
Grand plans
After moving in, we painted a couple of the bedrooms in some fun colourways, gave the living room and hallway a freshen up and talked to a designer about how to invest in our home and maximise the space. Plans included a reconfiguration and extension of the kitchen into the dining area, and a second-floor extension over the double garage which would give us a big master suite, complete with dressing area and bathroom..
Denne historien er fra August 2024-utgaven av Style at Home.
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Denne historien er fra August 2024-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.
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'We wanted an Art Deco Vibe' - Helen took her bathing space from cramped and dated to family-friendly, with a classic retro-inspired look
Inheriting a typical 1930s layout of rectangular bathroom and a separate loo along the corridor wasn't really suitable for us,' says Helen. 'And with a teenager and a younger child, we knew we had to change things quickly after moving into our house in April 2022.
How to Save More Money -Editor of MoneyWeek.com Kalpana Fitzpatrick shares easy tips and tricks for spending less
Editor of MoneyWeek.com Kalpana Fitzpatrick shares easy tips and tricks for spending less. Recent research shows that around a third of consumers are focused on immediate finances and unable to think about future savings.* If you're struggling to save or just not sure where to start, then these tips and tricks will help.
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
Living room STORAGE
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