After 10 years of living in London, I got the opportunity to move back to Manchester at just the right time,’ says Mel. ‘It was 2010 and I’d been working as cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic Airways when I met my future husband, Pete, in Ibiza. He was DJ-ing at Space nightclub and it was love at first sight. Our worlds collided and we knew we were supposed to be together.
My dad had just evicted yet another bad tenant from a property he rented out in Sale, and offered us the house. He’d had some terrible tenants over the years, so he’d had enough of being a landlord. Faced with the choice of struggling in London where house prices were so high or going back to Manchester, it was an easy decision for us to make.
All change
The house was in a real state, so we had it replastered before decorating. With no savings, everything went on a credit card and we put up with the tiny kitchen at the back. Although we made it look nice, our budget makeover didn’t last long, and when our daughter Elbie was born we realised we needed more space.
Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Style at Home.
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Denne historien er fra January 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