The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.
- Louisa May Alcott
The story so far…
Number 7.
I’ve always loved interiors and to be at home. But with a history of debt, undiagnosed ADHD and being a solo freelancer it never seemed like home ownership would be possible for me. Especially after a bank mortgage advisor gave me a flat no some years back with no constructive way to move forward. But as I headed towards my mid forties I saw an independent mortgage advisor and with a bit of determination and financial discipline (not something I would ever have related to!), I found myself moving into no 7 in summer 2023.
No 7 is post war ex council semi. I got the house at a good price because there was a lot of cosmetic work needing doing and it was in an ‘undesirable area’. I saw a lot of potential in the house, it had such a nice feel about it and the estate it’s on is surrounded by absolutely breathtaking countryside which is currently being restored thanks to National Lottery funding. The garden is large and I spend hours in my little greenhouse.
Apart from a roofer, electrician and plasterers I’ve done everything in the house and garden by my own fair hands on a very, very tight budget. I have reused materials where possible and foraged a lot of things off Marketplace, car boots and shop clear outs.
Sometimes I look at Instagram and feel lacking with my home - I don’t have Edwardian features or sash windows. Nor do I have marble worktops and brass fittings. But what I do have is a home that is made with love and to the best of my budget and ability and when I think of it like that I feel damn proud of my home.
My whole home has been thought out to be as an efficient as a space as possible. With the aforementioned ADHD, having a space that sets me up for routine is a huge help to my life. Having things to hand and my stuff on display helps me visualise where everything is and makes me feel a whole lot less overwhelmed by life.
Below are links to all the rooms in the house and you can see my projects in each one. I do hope you enjoy and it inspires you with your own renovations.
Start here
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The Before.
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1 year in.
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The Dining Room Transformation.
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Lessons on Renovating on A Budget.
Room by room.
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Kitchen Diner
From replacing the sink to the Ikea Ivar hack. And the removal of the stud wall to the designer walnut table on a budget. You can see all my project related to these spaces here.
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The Bedrooms.
The guest room paint colour to the desk space makeover. Not to mention the custom shelving headboard in my own bedroom. Hav a noe at all bedroom related projects here.
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The Garden.
From an overgrown, exposed souless space to a vibrant, tranquil have that the birds love. Find how I built my pond on pennies, a greenhouse makeover and planting up a load of textures on a very small budget.
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The Living Room
When I was told the wood burner set up I loved when viewing the house was unsafe and not structurally sound Iwas gutted but it worked outdoor the best as I love the rebuild!