'I resisted moving but this house convinced me!'

After swapping a modern house in London for a Victorian terrace in Wales, Gemma Hosking has embraced experimenting with vibrant colour

- Stephanie Smith

During the 20 years in her minimalist detached home in Enfield, north London, Gemma Hosking had resisted her Welsh husband's suggestion they move back to his home country many times.

But, with ageing parents, the children growing up, and a desire for a more relaxed life, she was ready to take the plunge.

The initial idea was to move to Cowbridge, a market town around 12 miles from Cardiff but, looking around, it didn't appeal much to Gemma. So Mark suggested they look at Mumbles, where he has family. 'It's a lovely place, with lots of little independent shops, cafes and restaurants,' says Gemma. 'There's much more of a sense of community here - it's a different pace of life, and we're right by the sea, which is a huge bonus.’ The first house they looked at was a no, but the second struck a chord. ‘As soon as I walked in, I knew I could make it something special,’ remembers Gemma. ‘It couldn't be more different to my old house, but there's so much space and light here, with large rooms, high ceilings and original features. It needed work, but I was really excited.’

COLOUR CONFIDENCE