I love where I live from a seaside town to suburbia, eight women reveal why they love their home

From a posh suburban penthouse to a remote cottage, w&h readers share the special places they call home

Carol forbes-Boulter, 58, is an illustrator and calligrapher. after her divorce in 2012, she moved near Cirencester in gloucestershire. She has two grown-up children. My HoMe there are five converted farm buildings and i live in the dovecote. it’s tiny, around 8x5.5m, but beautiful. an exterior staircase leads to the first floor, where the living room and kitchen are tucked under the roof beams. inside, there are steep steps down to my bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor. after my divorce, i couldn’t find anywhere affordable in essex. My friend had moved to the Cotswolds and i found this place on a visit to her. it felt like it was waiting for me; that life could carry on. My work i worked as a teaching assistant and taught art for 20 years but decided to work as an illustrator when i moved here. i was fortunate that dobbies garden Centres saw my work and commissioned me to create designs for its homeware collection. My CoMMute i work from a table in the living room, but i go for a walk before i start each day. i’m in the middle of five valleys, so it’s up hill and down dale, and absolutely stunning. My favourite PlaCe My daily life is quiet so i like to meet friends somewhere buzzy. Made by Bob, in Cirencester, is a great deli and bar. BeSt tHiNg aBout liviNg Here i can see herds of deer from my window. tHe dowNSide the wifi constantly drops out and i have to climb on to the windowsill to get a phone signal! My CoMMuNity i have five close friends, but i’ve also made a point of getting to know people in the village. wHat i do iN My dowNtiMe the village doesn’t have a shop or a pub but it does have a polo club! i like to watch the matches. How i treat MySelf i like to browse charity shops. i drink out of crystal glasses that have cost pennies. wHat MakeS Me HaPPy i’m single after 25 years of marriage, so i’m enjoying transforming from a fat caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly!

“I can see herds of deer from my window”