“I'M IN LOVE WITH vintage style”

MOVING INTO THIS GEORGIAN MILL HOUSE INSPIRED SUSIE TO EMBRACE COTTAGECORE AND BECOME A MAGPIE FOR SECOND-HAND TREASURES

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WHO LIVES HERE?

Susie Thomson, an NHS service manager, her husband, David, who has retired due to disability, and their son, David, 18; Maya, 22, has left home.

THE PROPERTY

A detached four-bedroom Georgian former mill house in the Scottish Borders.

"Plants bring a room to life'

'I wanted to create a rustic French farmhouse feel in the open-plan family room, so the key pieces here are second hand. The antique cabinet belonged to my parents, while houseplants brighten the space, particularly in the winter.'

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Kimpton sideboard in Natural, £1,050, Garden Trading, is similar. Try Wimborne two-seater sofa, £1,259, DFS. Try Carina washable rug 6960 in Blue, from £30, B&Q

"A quick fix isn't always best"

'We planned to replace the cabinet doors, paint them and add new worktops. However, we realised it was false economy to install quartz in a 30-year-old kitchen. So a local company built a new one to fit the footprint.'

BUY THE KEY PIECES Bespoke kitchen, price on request, Countryside Kitchens. Painted in De Nimes modern eggshell, £85 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try Dale wall light in Antique Brass, £165, The Wall Lighting Company

"Make the switch to antique pine"