Being priced out of anything in London (even a garage!), we decided to move away, to be able to provide a more stable future for my son Ned, whohas autism,’ says Beth. ‘We were both lucky enough to get job transfers to West Yorkshire, and I knew Wakefield vaguely, having visited for work previously.
‘I’d moved house a lot as a child, so the concept of relocating was very normal to me, and just deciding one day to move to Wakefield didn’t seem odd. I’m fortunate that Dave, who had never moved far from his family home, is very easy-going.
Finding our new home
This was the first of 11 properties I saw over a weekend of viewings. It had such a lovely feel, and I could see beyond the boring magnolia walls and lack of character. As we were making the step from rented accommodation to buying our own home, my wish list was realistic; I just wanted three bedrooms, some garden space, and to be situated in a nice area. This house seemed to tick all those boxes, and I knew it was a project we could do on our own terms, to turn it into a fantastic family home.
Making it our own
Once a specialist builder had done some of the basic renovation, including rewiring the electrics, we set about decorating. To start with it was just a case of overriding the existing decor in neutral shades, turning every room into a blank canvas while we decided what look we wanted to go for. I have one regret and that’s not redoing the plumbing when we first moved in. The radiators drive me mad as they’re proportionally wrong for the rooms, as do the knocking pipes under the floorboards. However, we’ve got used to it and it wasn’t on our initial budget list.
Style on a shoestring
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Style at Home.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Style at Home.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How to claim back LOST MONEY
Editor of Money Week.com Kalpana Fitzpatrick advises how to reclaim money that you might have lost track of
Plan the perfect BATHROOM LAYOUT
Whatever the size and shape of your bathroom, nail a layout that works for you and your family
Ellie's choice: A HOT WATER TAP
Free up kitchen worktop space by replacing the kettle with a multitasking tap that provides hot (and cold) filtered water
'Now we have fab SEA VIEWS!'
Three separate rooms have been turned into one stylish kitchen-diner by Ellie Rimmer, filled with colour and personality
Try a speedy STYLE UPDATE
Use a long weekend to perk up your home with these easy decor ideas and quick fixes
Be creative WITH COLOUR
Brighten up your home with the latest paint techniques and colour combinations
'My new build is a TALKING POINT'
Determined to dispel the stigma that all new builds are bland, visitors to Cotty's home are wowed by how she's added character into every room
'Our redesign adds VITAL SPACE'
A well thought-out extension and renovation has created a charming family home that's testament to Amy and Jamie's hard work and creativity
'We went over to the DARK SIDE'
Ditching its dated interior for a bold and dramatic palette, Alana's new-look home is now brimming with personality
'This house has always BEEN HOME'
When Donna inherited her late parents' home, she realised it was the perfect blank canvas to create the Nordic look she loves