Welcome to my home
Steph and Stewart had to be open-minded when it came to the south London location of their new home: ‘Our budget was limited, so we found ourselves looking in areas we’d never considered before,’ says Steph. ‘It’s worth being openminded. We didn’t know this area, but we’ve discovered restaurants, the market and green spaces, so it’s turned out to be a great location for us.’ But, when it came to the type of property, Steph was adamant: ‘I’m a traditionalist at heart, so it had to be a typical Victorian terrace.’
They found an unloved, two-bedroom house on a quiet street. Inside, it had been unsympathetically modernised. ‘I’d hoped for some beautiful period character,’ says Steph, ‘but sadly the house hardly had any. The rooms were nicely proportioned, though, and I was confident that we could reinstate the fireplaces.’
Since moving in, the couple have renovated and redecorated the house from top to bottom. Prompted by a defunct boiler, the first task was to strip out and refit the tired bathroom. Next, they redid the kitchen, demolishing an outside loo and adding French doors to boost light. The biggest project was a loft conversion, which added two bedrooms and a bathroom. ‘It was pretty stressful,’ says Steph. ‘There was so much mess everywhere and we slept in the living room for weeks, but the extra space outweighs the hassle.’
The decor was done on a tiny budget. Steph and Stewart were savvy, selling the original bathroom suite and kitchen units on ebay, along with a stash of old glassware they found under the floorboards. Furniture came from car-boot sales and Steph did intensive online research, tracking down accessories at the best prices. ‘Home is the happiest place for me and it’s really important to fill it with things I love.’
I’ve loved every minute of this renovation. Even in the tough times, there’s always an end in sight!