'We've doubled the size of our family home'

Transforming this 1960s house was a massive project for Alison Bowler and her husband Simon, but the finished result is better than they could've imagined

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When Alison Bowler, who was brought up in rural Scotland, and her husband, Simon, who's from Leicestershire, were looking for a place to live near London, they also wanted space and a decent garden. 'We'd decided on St Albans, as you get more for your money, it has good transport links, and the gardens are a decent size,' Alison explains.

After spending three years doing up a Victorian terraced cottage in the city, and having their son, Jamie, they realised they craved even more space. 'We were really happy with St Albans, but we wanted a bigger house and garden,' says Alison. This 1960s detached house in a quiet road caught their eye, and the large outdoor space was a huge attraction. 'It wasn't our usual style, but we could see it had massive potential, particularly downstairs and in the loft. After moving in March 2017, they were advised by an architect to live in the house for a while before making any major changes. 'It was good advice, as it gave us time to really think about what we wanted and how we would use the rooms.'

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