Welcome to my home

When Helen and Gavin Mcmurtry bought their home, it was a race against time to get it ready for Christmas. ‘We wanted to host a big family get-together so we needed to have it ready in a few months,’ says Helen. ‘We loved that the property had period features but it was painted in bright colours, so when we moved in, first on my to-do list was to paint it in neutral shades like grey and white for a more timeless look.’

Helen knew just how she wanted her home to feel. ‘Our aim was to create a cosy family home that we could grow into,’ she says. ‘Making decorating choices at speed really made us focus our ideas.’

The couple moved in with next-to-nothing. ‘We used to rent a furnished flat so we needed sofas, beds and a dining table,’ says Helen. She frantically started shopping online, looking for stores with short lead times. ‘For weeks, we sat on cushions on the living room floor while we waited for our sofas to arrive.’

The couple also renovated the bathroom, removing an oversized sink to make space for a walk-in shower, restoring the roll-top bath and painting the walls grey. In the living room, they painted the pine fixings white to blend in and laid new carpet in the hallway.

It didn’t take long for the house to feel Christmassy. ‘We put a wreath on each door and put a tree in the kitchen and living room,’ says Helen. To keep things simple, Helen decorated with lots of fresh foliage from a local florist. ‘After Christmas dinner, we relaxed with the family in front of the fire and opened our presents. It was lovely,’ she says. With baby Delilah’s arrival, the house will be even busier this year but Helen isn’t phased. ‘We just love family gatherings,’ she says.