'I decorated this house twice to find my style'

Kayla Reynolds initially followed trends to decorate her new build, but soon realised she preferred the classic country look, so gave every room a timeless makeover

- Maxine Brady

When Kayla and Stuart Reynolds attended a friend's housewarming party, little did they realise that less than a year later they too would be moving to the same estate. 'A friend invited us to dinner at his home, which he had just bought on a new-build development,' says Kayla. 'When we told him how much we loved his property, he encouraged us to look at another house on the estate that was up for sale. We fell instantly for this place! By the end of the year, we'd moved in.'

The couple had outgrown their old home and were craving more space. 'We wanted to stay in the area because we have lots of family and friends around here but were struggling to find a four-bedroom property within our budget,' says Kayla. 'Well, that was until we found this house!' The couple didn't originally have a new-build property in mind, but the large windows, high ceilings, and generous open-plan layout of this house instantly appealed to them. "The builders had added lots of unusual details that you don't find in many new-build homes and as a result it felt very luxurious and spacious,' explains Kayla, 'and the location, close to both town and the countryside, was ideal for us and our three dogs.'

MAKING IT WORK