CAREFULLY curated

BECKY NEVITT SUMS UP THE MODERN-CLASSIC LOOK WITH MUTED HUES, LIMEWASHED PIECES AND VINTAGE-STYLE ARTWORK

Kitchen

"I really wanted a classic, hand-painted kitchen, but it had to be on a budget."

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Kitchen in Taupe Grey and Diamond Grey, price on request, Mereway Kitchens. Shaftesbury lights, £189 each, Neptune. Low weathered-oak farmhouse stools, £199 each, Webb House Furnishers.

When an ex-rental house came on the market two doors from her mum, Becky Nevitt was eager to take on a new challenge in the street where she grew up. She had recently renovated a four-bedroom detached 1920s property on a busy road. By contrast, this 20-year-old Georgian-style detached house was on a cul de sac within a gated estate, making it more suitable for sons Ethan, Mason and Harry to play out. 'This is my fourth renovation,' says Becky, who felt a newer home wouldn't throw up as many unexpected issues. I've moved frequently over the years in order to climb the property ladder to bigger houses in nicer areas. Doing a lot of the work myself means value can be added quite quickly.'

WHAT WORK DID YOU DO?

'I wanted to create an open plan kitchen diner and living room, so knocked down a wall and relocated the kitchen to the large family room. It used to have a spiral staircase leading to a den in the loft, but we added a hatch so that space is used for storage now.

The large conservatory was also demolished to make the space lighter and more connected to the garden, as well as converting a study into a first floor laundry room and replacing all four bathrooms."

DID YOU DO MUCH WORK YOURSELF?

As many evenings and weekends as I could manage, I'd be here working on the house. The only help that I needed was a builder for knocking down the wall, a tiler for the kitchen floor as it would have taken forever, and a carpet fitter.'

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION?