'I've made nearly everything in my home'

With her can-do attitude to master the art of DIY, Abi Hugo has filled her home with one-of-a-kind pieces, creating a stylish look for less

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Abi has always loved the area her and her family live in but when her eldest, Henry, was four and she was pregnant with daughter Millie, they needed a bigger family home.

‘We spotted this place; it was close to town, but with amazing views across the fields. On our first viewing, with soft light pouring through the windows, we instantly knew it was the one,’ says Abi.

While the house needed a cosmetic update, it had been well looked after, meaning Abi and her growing family could move straight in and start on making quick and easy style swaps. “There was a lot of grey in the walls and carpets,’ Abi remembers ‘which made the rooms feel cold and I’m all about adding warmth so the first thing I did was paint the living room in a muted coffee colour.’ Next, she replaced all the shutters with voiles, adding softness to the large windows.

WE CAN DO IT!

‘My mum flipped houses when I was growing up so I’ve had that example of a woman who can do any and all DIY since childhood,’ explains Abi. ‘I've always upcycled furniture, but when we moved here, I wanted to start doing bigger makeovers and my first project was the large open shelving unit and desk in the living room.'