Creatingup
a special place for my kids to grow in was the driving force behind my own house renovation, and even though it was a stressful experience for both me and my husband, I’ve since realised it was one of the most important things we’ve ever done. After all, if your kids are happy, chances are you are too. We might have finished our renovation projects for now, but I’m always on the lookout for improvements I might make in the future. So when I heard about artist Faye Campbell’s eclectic, child-friendly house in Surrey, I couldn’t wait to see the space she and her husband Dave have created for myself – and maybe even steal some ideas for my own home along the way...
Q My two kids would be in their element growing up here – the garden is the stuff of dreams. Is that what attracted you to the house in the first place?
A I must admit that I was pretty smitten as soon as I saw the garden and the views over the open countryside. We’d spent two years looking for a plot where we could build our own house, but nothing suitable ever came up. We eventually saw this 1950s house eight years ago and, although it was nothing special in terms of how it looked, we could see it had the potential to grow with our family. We always had in mind the kind of open-plan, welcoming home it could become, plus there was enough space outside for us to build a separate art studio for me to work from home. It’s definitely proved to be the right move for us – when the kids were younger it was great to know I could just open the doors and let them run round the garden to burn off some energy.
Q We rushed straight into our own renovation as soon as we bought our house, but there are times I wish we’d lived there for a while before beginning the building work so we could get a proper feel for the place. How long did you wait before starting yours?
A We couldn’t afford to renovate straight away, so we had to live in the original house for three years while we saved up. In some ways it was a blessing in disguise as it gave us time to think about how we could improve the house to make it work for us as a family. I’m not sure we would have ended up with the house we’ve got now had we raced into it.
Q I definitely would have made a great party kitchen top of our house wishlist if I’d spent more time planning the space as I think it’s the one thing missing from our home. What was your priority for this place?
A Pretty much the same! We love having parties and wanted a big, sociable space with a kitchen, dining and living area leading out to the garden so the party could spill outside in the summer. With four kids, we also needed more bedroom space – extending into the loft has given us three extra bedrooms and a bathroom. As the kids get older, it’s less likely they’ll want to spend all their time with us, so converting the garage into a separate living area means they can also go and watch TV on their own now.
Q We didn’t live in our house while we renovated it as we couldn’t cope with the thought of being in the middle of a building a site with a toddler. What did you do?
A It makes me shudder just thinking about it again, but we stayed here throughout the build! We moved into the half-finished art studio space, and we basically camped out in one big room for five months. Thankfully the weather was fairly mild – it could have been a lot worse, but it’s definitely not an experience I’d like to repeat any time soon.
Q That sounds like my idea of hell! You’re definitely braver than I was. How did you cope?
A Yep, you’re right – it was pretty hellish! We didn’t have any hot water so I had to take the kids to the gym to give them a shower, and we lived on microwave meals. It did make me question what on earth we were doing, but the kids seemed to take it all in their stride. I suppose to them it was just a big adventure.
Q There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a stressful process though, is there? What did you find was the hardest part to deal with?
A Just trying to get on with family life, I suppose. It’s difficult enough to get the kids out of bed, dressed and ready for school on time on a normal day, but it’s 10 times worse when you’ve got builders there asking you questions before the school run! Living with the builders became part of our daily life, but I was relieved when the work was finished and we had the house to ourselves again.
Q Talking of builders, I found it quite hard to deal with them – they always went to my husband for his opinion, even though I was there most mornings...
A Like you, I was the one on site dealing with the questions. I’m quite a visual person and knew how I wanted the house to look, and at times I had to be quite firm with the builders to make sure I got what I wanted. They often pressured me to go for the cheapest, quickest option; I definitely learned to speak up and stick to my guns.
Q What’s made the biggest difference to the house and how has it changed family life for you?
A Adding the two-storey extension has given us this fantastic double-height dining area overlooking the garden. That, coupled with the more open-plan layout, has transformed our home and the way we live in it. I love spending time in the kitchen, and the kids naturally find their way to this part of the house when they come back from school – probably for something to eat rather than to speak to me, though!
Q What really stands out for me is the way your artwork brings your home to life. It shows what an instant impact it can have. What advice can you give to other people on choosing the right pieces for their home?
A Artwork can really change the feel of space and it’s so easy to update if you fancy a change. You need to consider the size, proportions and shape of the room where you’re going to hang it, but try not to overthink it. Go for designs and colours that you love and you can’t really go wrong.
Q I think I’m most envious of the fact that you can work from home every day. I’d gladly swap my daily commute to the office for a 10-metre stroll across the garden, but is it as idyllic as it sounds?
A When the kids were younger it was invaluable – it made it so much easier to juggle work and home life. It’s definitely a luxury to have my own studio, but one of the downsides is that I can’t get that separation from home life. It can be difficult to completely switch off, but it’s a small price to pay for it all, though!
Q So with the house finally finished, was all the stress and hard work worth it?
A Most definitely. The house is exactly what we imagined it would be. It’s perfect for our family, and that’s the best you can hope for.