Creative refurb - 'We've spent years turning this into our forever home'

Rather than rushing to decorate their first home, Lola Higham and her husband, Alan, saved and planned for four years so they could create their perfect space

- Maxine Brady

Swapping a rented property for your first home is a big life change, but Lola Higham was more than ready for the challenge. Fed up with renting, Lola and her husband, Alan, decided to plough their savings into buying this 1970s, three-bedroom house in Preston. ‘We wanted a house with character that we could transform to reflect our style,’ she says.

The couple was impressed with this house’s generous outdoor space. ‘We were blown away with the large garden. There was potential to add an extension for when the time comes to start a family, so that was a great selling point for us. It was in a brilliant location, too,’ she explains. ‘We bought this house knowing it was potentially going to be our forever home.’

Unfortunately, though, the décor inside was in a poor state. Every wall was painted magnolia, and there were dark carpets throughout. The main bathroom had an unattractive, cream jacuzzi-style bath, alongside a cream toilet and sink. The limestone conservatory floor always looked dirty regardless of how well it was cleaned, and the kitchen had old cabinets and a tiled splashback that Lola hated. ‘Every room felt gloomy and tired,’ she says.

COME ON IN..

WE ARE Lola Higham, 32, a Quality Assurance Associate and my husband, Alan, 32, a Tax Accountant. We live here with our continental giant pet rabbit, Blue.

OUR HOME IS A 1970s three-bedroom, semi-detached house, in Preston, Lancashire.