'My home is my HAPPY PLACE'

Sandra and Simon renovated their weekend retreat, a former fisherman's cottage on the Kent coast, with soft hues and nautical style

- NATALIE FLAUM

When Simon retired, we made the move from Surrey to our weekend retreat in Queenborough Harbour, which is where Simon's grandparents (Grandad Nobby and Lillian, who reached the grand age of 101!) lived,' says Sandra. 'Grandad converted Thames barges into house boats, working in the boat shed here, and Simon was born in the back bedroom, which is now our bathroom.

When Simon’s grandmother passed away, the house lay empty for 10 years until we bought it from family eight years ago to use as a holiday home before planning a major renovation.

Remaking history

The renovation works involved the demolition of the existing conservatory and downstairs bathroom, to create a bright open-plan extension with renewed joists, skylight windows and bifold doors opening onto the harbour-side terrace.

Simon’s grandad’s old boat shed has been converted into a garage with an integrated utility and downstairs loo. Upstairs, we transformed the third bedroom into a bathroom and the second bedroom into my craft room.

I’ve a passion for interiors and crafting, and I’m proud to call myself a homemaker. A self-confessed magazine junkie I keep scrapbooks, follow interior blogs and scroll though Instagram for ideas.

With Simon’s experience working in the building industry, he had the skill set required to design our plans to pass planning permission in a conservation area. Once we had the go ahead, we used the checkatrade.​com website to locate a builder, who was great and managed everything from plumbing to electrics, carpentry and decorating.

Baked with love