'Our redesign adds VITAL SPACE'
Style at Home|May 2024
A well thought-out extension and renovation has created a charming family home that's testament to Amy and Jamie's hard work and creativity
'Our redesign adds VITAL SPACE'

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Amy Nightingale, 38, a senior sales executive for a property developer, and I live here with my fiancé, Jamie Shefford, 46, owner of Sheff Plumbing and Heating, our son, Perry, two, my son Stanley, 14, and Jamie’s two boys, Carter, 16, and Conor, 18.

MY HOME We live in a four-bedroom, 1930s semi-detached house in East Sussex.

WHEN WE MOVED IN It was an outdated three-bed property that needed modernisation.

AND NOW It’s a spacious family home, with the perfect blend of functionality and comfort. A side extension added more space downstairs for an open-plan kitchen-diner, utility and downstairs toilet and upstairs, an extra bedroom. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

STYLE TIP Don’t rush to buy accessories. It’s tempting to want to fill a room as quickly as possible, but taking time to discover interesting pieces for your home is much more fun and will set your home apart from the rest.

We were fed up with renting in our home town of Brighton,’ says Amy, ‘and were thinking about having a baby, so desperately needed more space for our growing, blended family. When we spotted this 1930s semidetached house had come onto the market in a village on the outskirts of the city, it ticked all our boxes.

The property was surrounded by lots of green space, was a short walking distance to the local school and shops, and with only a short drive back into the centre of Brighton it felt like we would have the perfect balance of everything.

Perfect potential 

This story is from the May 2024 edition of Style at Home.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2024 edition of Style at Home.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM STYLE AT HOMEView All
'We wanted an Art Deco Vibe' - Helen took her bathing space from cramped and dated to family-friendly, with a classic retro-inspired look
Style at Home

'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.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
How to Save More Money -Editor of MoneyWeek.com Kalpana Fitzpatrick shares easy tips and tricks for spending less
Style at Home

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.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
What's for DINNER TONIGHT?
Style at Home

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

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
Something for THE WEEKEND
Style at Home

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)...

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
Plant bulbs now for A SPLASH OF SPRING COLOUR
Style at Home

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

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Living room STORAGE
Style at Home

Living room STORAGE

Bring order to your living space with hard-working storage that looks stylish too

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
How to plan KITCHEN LIGHTING
Style at Home

How to plan KITCHEN LIGHTING

Achieve the perfect lighting scheme that's bright, hard-working and looks good

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Try a speedy STYLE UPDATE
Style at Home

Try a speedy STYLE UPDATE

Give your home a seasonal revamp with fun tricks, treats and cosy touches

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
Clever decorating WORK YOUR WALLS
Style at Home

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...

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
Give your home an AUTUMN RESET
Style at Home

Give your home an AUTUMN RESET

Make rooms feel toasty and warm with plush layers, earthy tones and cosy touches

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024