CREATIVE THINKING
Tahnee and Matthew Maher have made a standard semi something quite spectacular
The clever configuration of a South Wales semi has given its owners the spacious, bright and welcoming family home they wanted
Tahnee Maher and her husband Matthew moved into their home five years ago, keen to live in a more family-friendly area. The house, a mile down the road from their previous home, sits on a quiet cul-de-sac with sweeping views out across the Vale of Glamorgan. ‘It was the next natural step for us,’ says Tahnee. ‘Although our last property was spacious, it was on a main road in a much busier part of town.’ The property was owned by a friend of the pair who coincidentally was trying to sell at the same time. ‘Matthew and I knew this house, loved the area and with scope for improvement, it felt like the right move for us.’
Although not quite to Tahnee and Matthew’s style, the house was immaculate and structurally sound, and with only a small delay in the chain, they were able to move in pretty much straight away. The house retained some lovely original features, such as parquet flooring and picture rails, but the galley kitchen, true to the era of the house, was small and impractical for their young busy family. The dining room was cut off from the kitchen, so wasn’t fully utilised and the conservatory, although a good space, was outdated. ‘With not much budget left after the move, we had to think creatively about how to make the spaces work better and decided to combine the rooms into a big open-plan area, by knocking through from the kitchen into the adjoining rooms.’
As Matthew is an electrician and builder by trade, he was able to take on most of the work himself. ‘It was a messy job,’ says Tahnee. ‘The dust it generated was awful and keeping our curious toddler away was a challenge, but we got through it.’
The couple who now have three children, Esme, six, Jude, three and Anastasia, one, have continued to update the house one room at a time, balancing the renovations with family life and full-time jobs. The bathroom was recently given a complete makeover, and elsewhere carpets have been ripped up, floorboards made good, and walls replastered and redecorated from top to bottom. ‘I adore the results,’ says Tahnee.
The new layout has been a complete success and really changed how the family use the space. ‘We’re very proud of what we have achieved since we’ve been here,’ says Tahnee. ‘Matthew has put so much work into the house, turning our ideas into reality. It is now a spacious, bright and welcoming family home that reflects our personalities and will give our young family room to grow for many years to come.’