Claire Baker, an embroidery artist and college lecturer, lives here. Her three grown-up children live nearby
Property
A late-victorian terraced villa in County Durham
What she did
Claire replaced the existing bathroom and kitchen fittings, stripped walls of wood cladding and replastered, sanded and stained floors, repaired cornices and plasterwork, and redecorated throughout
Below: Inspiration is everywhere in Claire’s studio. She bought the drapers’ cabinet at Boldon Auction Galleries and stored it for years in a friend’s garage. Now it’s stacked with her vintage textiles and trimmings
Above: When the family outgrew their smaller house, Claire and her parents agreed to a house-swapAbove right: Claire’s sister is planning to restore the hall door’s original central stained-glass panel