When I came to view this property I was renting a flat five doors down the road,’ says Catherine. ‘I did want to buy my own place one day, but wasn’t seriously thinking of moving, yet since this was so close I thought I may as well take a look. When I walked in I just fell in love with it.
It’s a ground-floor flat with a garden, which was on my wish list, but it also has beautiful high ceilings, huge sash windows, and lovely original features, such as the ceiling moldings and the fireplace in the living room. The layout suited me too, with the kitchen and living room next to each other at the front and the bedroom at the back, rather than on the noisy roadside. And it was big for a flat, as developers hadn’t chopped it up to try and squeeze in an extra bedroom.
Panic buy
Choosing the flat was easy but moving proved to be somewhat trickier as I exchanged right at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when the country was going into lockdown. I was lucky that I lived so close, as the owners let me go round and measure up before I moved in, so I was able to think about what I wanted to do with space. At one point I wasn’t sure if the sale would happen as the house-buying chain looked like it might collapse because no one could move. However, I did manage to complete and got the keys at the start of the Easter holidays. I’d originally planned for my boyfriend to help me decorate the place but he was in lockdown with his mum, so I decided to get on with it by myself and spent the holidays going into the flat at 8 am and decorating every day, moving from room to room.
Denne historien er fra April 2021-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.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2021-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.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
'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