'It wasn't love AT FIRST SIGHT!'

Antonia and Sam have turned their outdated property into a relaxed, bohemian family home filled with everything they love

- HOLLY WALSH

ABOUT ME I'm Antonia Kiddy, 40, and I work for the Positive Birth Company. I live here with my husband Sam, 42, director of a wholesale fishing company, and our two sons Solomon, seven, and Atlas, five.

OUR HOME A four-bed detached property in Torquay, Devon, built in the 1920s. We bought it in 2013.

WHEN WE MOVED IN The property hadn't been touched since the 1970s.

The kitchen was small and closed off, there was flocked wallpaper on the walls, shagpile carpet on the floors and an avocado bathroom suite.

AND NOW The kitchen and dining rooms have been knocked through, creating a lovely open-plan space.

STYLE TIP Coffee table books are great for inspiration, sourcing new ideas and helping you see how things you already own can be reworked and given a fresh look.

When we first saw our 1920s home in Torquay, South Devon, it’s safe to say we needed a fair amount of vision,’ admits Antonia. ‘We’d been renting a one-bedroom flat and were keen to find a bigger property and start a family.

The whole house resembled a bad 1970s sitcom, with walls covered in flocked, shiny peach wallpaper, a sea of pink shagpile carpet, and Artex covering every ceiling. There were also sinks in each room, the kitchen was small, dark and cut off from the rest of the house and, to top it all off, the bathroom had an avocado green suite!

Plus side

However, there were some plus points that really sold the house to us. First off, it was in a great location, close to the sea and directly opposite Sam’s wholesale fishing business, which meant he’d have no commute and we’d be able to spend more time together.