Born and bred in this part of south east London, Deborah Brett was thrilled when a Victorian terraced property came onto the market on one of her preferred streets. ‘It wasn’t exactly love at first sight,’ she recalls. ‘The whole house was in a state of disrepair, and the rooms had an odd smell from not being used in some time – but it was available at a good price and I knew the potential was there to turn it back into a characterful family home for myself and the boys.’
With the sale taking some time to go through, as Deborah had to wait for power of attorney to be granted for the then 95-year-old owner, she had plenty of time to think about the structural changes she wanted to make to the house. ‘My first priority was to move the bathroom upstairs,’ she says, ‘as it was previously at the back of the house where the kitchen now sits. This layout felt old-fashioned and not practical for a family of four, so I decided to take some space from one of the bedrooms to make room for a family bathroom on the first floor instead.’
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Real Homes.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Real Homes.
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
Side-return extensions
An efficient use of redundant outside space, extending to the side is the mart way to gain the extra room you crave and transform the way you live
Spa-style bathrooms
Prioritise self-care and put pampering on your daily schedule by taking bathroom design inspo from your favourite spa
Light & bright
Rachel's main requirements for her kitchen extension were a window overlooking the garden and space to entertain. We reveal how she made her dream a reality
Colourful kitchens
Let your personality shine with a style that makes you smile from that morning cuppa to dinner time. Don't be shy, go for bold
In the zone
Using clever design and planting, Pauline has transformed a blank canvas into an elegant, contemporary garden complete with social spaces, a cutting patch and a pond
Heart of the home
Faced with three living spaces and a tiny kitchen, Jo and Chris have devised a clever, broken-plan layout where the kitchen takes centre stage
Pre-loved treasures
Deborah has filled her south London home with character without breaking the bank, thanks to her smart shopping know-how and eye for a bargain
A new leaf
Dani Sandels embraced her passion for botanics and natural textures in the renovation of her family home, resulting in a space that delights the eye at every turn
A learning experience
Steph and James honed their home-improvement skills as they updated their old house and overgrown garden with help from family and friends -
SAGE GREEN
A calm, tranquil and fresh hue, our colour guru, Amelia, shares why you can't go far wrong with this nearly neutral
