Home at last
One couple’s patience has been rewarded after taking more than six years to turn a faded house into a stunning home
It took six years to create this characterful Victorian five-bedroom family home from two separate flats
With everything on their ‘to do’ list finally done, all the Jasper family will have to think about this Christmas is celebrating the season and enjoying their beautiful home. Getting to this point has taught Natasha and Lee to be patient, for it’s taken them six years to get their home just the way they want it. ‘This will be the first Christmas we haven’t been either planning the next stage in the renovation or sitting in the middle of plaster dust!’ says Natasha.
She’s been renovating properties for years. ‘I caught the property bug when I moved to Brighton from London and had renovated two houses in six years before I spotted this one. Although it’s a cliché, I wanted it instantly – I couldn’t get it out of my head,’ says Natasha, who by this stage was juggling running her new business with being mum to two boys. ‘But I was determined to make it work.’
When the couple first saw the house it was divided into two flats and nothing much had been done to it in 50 years. But Natasha was convinced it could be brought up to date without compromising its original features – and she wasn’t the only one. ‘A lot of developers were interested, but we wanted to reinstate it as a family home. We made a real connection with the vendors and they sold to us.’
Now they had secured their dream home, the couple had to find the money to renovate it. ‘We’d maxed our budget to buy it so we
couldn’t afford to do it up immediately. We did nothing for eight months until we’d saved enough to tackle the bathroom and kitchen,’ says Natasha, who project-managed the work throughout. ‘We went on like that – renovating, saving then renovating again – for six years as we moved steadily around the house.’
Starting downstairs, Natasha opened up the smaller rooms either side of the hallway. She took down the walls between the old living room and kitchen, and the drawing room and dining room, creating two long spaces either side of the front door, also adding an office and shower room. The house was re-plumbed, re-wired and re-plastered. ‘Upstairs was easier – just decorating really – and the last major job we tackled was creating virtually another floor in the loft. It’s a wonderful space, I love it up there!’ she says.
‘We didn’t need an architect either, just building control for elements such as taking down the walls and the loft, where we also enlisted a building surveyor. Unfortunately though, we didn’t have the financial luxury of being able to move out during the messiest bits of the renovation. With three children and lots of open wires and no electrics or heating for a while, it was tough but the kids enjoyed lots of takeaways!’
While the building work was going on, Natasha was planning the interior design. ‘We wanted the original features of the house
to be the focus – the architraves, cornicing and ceiling roses. Now cleaned and painted white, they almost sparkle, so juxtaposing them with the deep chalky colours works well.
‘I love vintage pieces but, with three young boys, practicality and safety have to be top of the list!’ says Natasha. The family learned the hard way when an open fire they were using to heat a room set light to a cushion. Thankfully, they caught it in time.
‘At Christmas we still light the fires, but we’re extra careful. It’s so cosy to cuddle up as a family in front of the stove watching the children’s favourite films. For us, that’s what Christmas is, a family time full of good food, fun and friends. It’s about creating memories for the children in the home they’re growing up in.
‘On Christmas Eve we all get into our PJs early and play board games or watch films in the living room,’ says Natasha. ‘Once the children have gone to bed, Father Christmas leaves the presents in there too for the next morning. But, once Christmas Day dawns, it’s all about the kitchen and chasing the boys away from nibbling the food before it even reaches the table!
‘It’s taken six years and a lot of graft, but I think we can say now that our work here is done!’
‘We couldn’t afford to do up the house immediately, so we did nothing until we’d saved enough to tackle the bathroom and kitchen,’
SAYS NATASHA