‘CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT COLOUR’
A bold palette gives Becky’s festive home plenty of personality
Having my heart set on a period property meant our house hunt was very focused when we were searching back in 2009,’ says Becky. ‘That, plus the fact that we wanted to live close to the railway station in Wellingborough, meant we only viewed two properties – one new build on a housing estate and this one, which was brimming with potential.
My husband John commutes into London every day and we both have family and friends in and around the area, so the location of the house ticked all our boxes. Being set back from a main road means it’s in a peaceful position, yet still very well connected to transport, as well as being around the corner from a park and local schools. For us it offers the best of both worlds – it’s close to the city and has the countryside on its doorstep.
Getting the basics right
It was the feeling of space that really captivated me when we looked around this property and I instantly started imagining what we could do with each room. But as with a lot of older houses, some parts were dated and needed replacing. So once we’d moved in, we tackled these more pressing issues first. The single-glazed sash windows had to be refitted with panes of double-glazed glass, as they would build up ice inside during the winter. We also spent some of our budget adding thick insulation to all of the externally facing walls upstairs, which has made a huge difference and was definitely money well spent.
Moving on up
Five years after moving in, we decided to extend into the loft to future-proof the house and make sure we’d have room to grow over the coming years. The
‘light cinnamon- scented candles to bring the house alive with the aromas of christmas’
project ran smoothly and the space is large enough to fit in a guest bed as well as a small office area, which I can run my business from. We installed a bespoke aluminium-framed window to let plenty of light into the loft space, which, after lots of research, I sourced for just £500 compared to quotes coming in at near £2,000. We also ripped out and redesigned the bathroom on the first floor as it felt dated. In the sitting room, I couldn’t wait to rip up the dingy brown carpet. I’d always hoped for parquet flooring and managed to source some reclaimed from an old school on ebay.
Paint instead of replace
More recently, we have given the kitchen a makeover as the existing cream cupboards just didn’t fit in with our colourful style. Conscious of budget, we decided to have the cabinets painted rather than replaced, as the layout already suited our needs and the units were in good condition. A local tradesman carried out the work and I replaced the door knobs with brass cup handles. I really wanted marble or quartz worktops but they were too pricey, so I chose marbleeffect laminate worktops instead, which my Dad kindly fitted for us to help keep costs down. I’m thrilled with the result – no one can believe it’s the same kitchen!
Loving the period style
When it came to the interior design of the house, I was keen to be sympathetic to the property’s history and work the
‘Mix and Match festive decorations to build up a collection of pieces that you love’
period features into each room, while adding a contemporary twist. I would describe my style as quite maximalist and eclectic and I love mixing old and new to create unique looks and combinations. My love of colour certainly shines through all over the house, but particularly in the living room where I based the scheme on two fabulous Swoon sofas, which I picked up for a bargain price at a local outlet – the orange and the blue sparked lots of ideas for decorating this space.
Festive traditions
Being in this beautiful house at Christmas is quite magical and I love its traditional feel at this time of year. The woodburners make the living and dining rooms feel very cosy and we always choose a tall tree to make the most of having such high ceilings! We often host Christmas day here and John takes the lead on the cooking front, making Christmas dinner for the whole family. I tend to decorate with lots of colour and each year I treat myself to a few additional baubles to add to the tree and build up the collection. Making the run up to Christmas special for Lola is very important to me as well and she has her own pink tree in her bedroom, which she decorates however she fancies each year. Eric the elf visits her every day throughout December,
‘if you have a bold, patterned wallpaper in a bedroom, tone it down with simple, plain bedlinen’
We’ve learnt a lot throughout the process of renovating our home and have been resourceful with our design decisions to get the look we wanted on a budget. researching every detail may take time, but it can save a lot of money. it also forces you to be patient, rather than rushing into any snap decisions. i’m so glad i went with my gut and was bold with my choices, too – the quirky details are what it makes this house our home.