‘We did a full refurb to let the period features shine’

Lily Barton fell in love with this maisonette’s Victorian charm, so gave every room a refresh in emerald greens, inspired by an original stained-glass window

- Lily Barton

When Lily Barton and her fiancé, Patrick, started searching for a city centre flat in Bristol, they didn’t expect to find a four-bedroom maisonette within budget. ‘We used to live in a more rural spot and wanted to be based somewhere with more of a buzz. We couldn’t believe our luck when we found such a spacious flat – it really is like a Tardis,’ she enthuses.

The property had been previously renovated, meaning no structural work was required. ‘Being first-time buyers, we weren’t keen to take on a large project and there was a definite appeal in being able to move straight in,’ says Lily. ‘We immediately fell in love with the period features – the high ceilings, wooden flooring, and stained glass – and knew straight away it was the place for us.’

The décor, however, was not to the couple’s taste. In the kitchen, there were plain, white cabinets and the wooden worktop was tarnished and stained. There were other issues, too. ‘Shortly after moving in, we discovered issues with the heating system and that both the bath and shower were leaking,’ Lily recalls. ‘We decided that, rather than spend money on repairs, it made more sense to refurbish and get exactly what we wanted.’

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Lily Barton, a nurse. I live here with my fiancé, Patrick.