A new paradise

Colour confident Sophie Hannah and husband Robin transformed a run-down Victorian townhouse into a true maximalist's dream

-  LAURA EWART

Accidental renovators Sophie Hannah and her husband, Robin, certainly weren’t looking for a project. ‘We’d outgrown our little two-bed and wanted somewhere near transport links that had plenty of space, especially as I work from home as a content creator,’ explains Sophie. ‘Ideally, we wanted a fourbedroom house in the Colchester area, but couldn’t find one that had more than two double bedrooms. When this house came up it was very affordable because it needed renovating, but it had three double bedrooms and a big single bedroom.’

They knew they’d want to decorate, whatever house they bought – but it wasn’t until they got the keys on moving day that they realised how big of a project the house was. ‘And I had no idea how stressful renovating a house can be,’ says Sophie.