EFFORTLESS ELEGANCE A pared-back palette of breezy neutrals and whites is a classic look
WHO LIVES HERE
Kate Heaton, co-owner of Our Kid, a children’s lifestyle shop and café in Chorlton, her husband Luke, who runs a design agency, and their sons Max, eight, and Monty, five
THE PROPERTY
A three-bedroom semidetached Victorian villa in Chorlton, Manchester £475,000
MONEY SPENT £125,000
WHAT IT’S WORTH NOW £850,000
PRICE
cladding on the walls and ceiling,’ says Kate. ‘After living in the space for a while, we realised the sun is never directly on that part of the house, so we were able to add more skylights without it turning into a greenhouse.’
The couple were lucky in their quest for a bespoke kitchen on a budget, as they discovered Norfolk company Naked Kitchens just after it had launched. ‘Our fantastic carpenter, David Marsh, fitted it, as well as the floors, skirting boards and built-in shelving in the living room,’ says Kate. ‘The marble worktops and splashbacks were probably the most indulgent spend in the house, but they make all the difference. And I love how the appliances and bins are hidden away.’
A call from the local council about planning permission after the extension had been built came as a surprise. ‘The architect had told us that the extension would be within permitted development rights as it was under three metres, but that doesn’t apply at the side,’ says Kate. ‘After inspecting it, the planning officer said everyone in the office thought it was the best extension they’d ever seen, so luckily we got retrospective permission and didn’t have to pull it down.’
When it came to the design, both Kate and Luke prefer a simple Scandinavian aesthetic, so they boxed off the slim chimney breasts in the living room, main bedroom and Max’s bedroom to create a more modern feel throughout. ‘In our previous house, there were lots of chimney breasts, which can be hard to work around, and Luke is obsessed with a clean-lined look,’ Kate explains. ‘We’ve added decorative logs as a focal point in the living room, as there wasn’t an original fireplace, and
KITCHEN
Bifold doors extend across the entire wall, opening the space up to the garden
EXTERIOR
A dilapidated garage at the side of the Victorian villa was demolished, and the 150-year-old front door was stripped back and repainted
KITCHEN UNITS
Marble worktops and spashbacks were an investment buy
LIVING ROOM
Painted in Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball, the feature bookcase wall is finished off with a long, polished concrete shelf. Large… plants from Hortology add a splash of greenery. For a similar chair, try the navy blue Retrostar velvet chair from Bombinate
LIVING ROOM
‘We loved the classic 1960s design,’ says Luke of the dark green Outline sofa by Muuto. ‘It perfectly fitted the dimensions of the room.’ The side table is from Ikea, the rug is a Hay design and the colourful cushions are from Debenhams
SNUG
When the house was rented out, this room was used as a bedroom. It’s now been opened up to the hallway and kitchen to improve the flow. A Muuto ceiling light hangs above the sofa and cushions by Hay. The nest of tables came from Habitat and the artwork is by Sanna Annukka
we didn’t want a woodburning stove because we found that we never used the one in our last house. In our bedroom, the boxing has made it easier to position the bedside tables, and the shelf behind the bed provides useful display space for plants and artwork.’
Despite them being short on cash towards the end of the project, Kate is glad they pushed on and hired local garden designer Earthbound Landscapes to revamp the outside space. ‘We wanted it to feel like an extra room with an Ibiza vibe,’ she explains.
Unsurprisingly, Kate’s favourite room is the kitchen-diner. ‘I like the way it opens onto the garden,’ she says. ‘It’s so sociable – the kids can run outside and we love having people round.’
The only downside was losing a bedroom, which Kate hopes to rectify in future. As Monty’s top-floor bedroom is on a split level at the rear, there’s scope to extend into the eaves at the front. ‘This would mean dropping the ceilings in the bedrooms below,’ she explains. ‘But as they’re 13 feet high, we probably wouldn’t miss the height.’ There are also grand plans to convert the basement into a teenagers’ TV room or chill-out den, and a ‘utility room of dreams’.
Despite admitting she’s not very good at staying still, Kate feels she’s found a great long-term home, which also earns them money as a set for TV shoots and adverts. ‘The house opposite my shop was being used as a location and I spoke to the director, who recommended an agency called UK Locations,’ says Kate. ‘Since then, we’ve had seven jobs in just under a year. It would be a bit stupid to move now, as it pays for our mortgage.’ Now that’s a win-win.
MAIN BEDROOM
Boxing off the chimney breast created space for a shelf to display artwork. Kate bought the throw on a recent trip to Mexico, its blush strips echoing the feature wall painted in Farrow & Ball’s Sulking Room Pink. The wooden bed and console table are from Habitat, the rug is from Hay and the shutters are from California Shutters
MAX’S BEDROOM
Max has recently moved to a bedroom on the top floor. ‘He’s so happy up there as it’s a really grown-up space for him, with the double bed, Ikea desk and shelves for his books,’ says Kate
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