COME ON IN!
ABOUT ME I’m Laura Tamcken, 36, a banking associate. I live with my husband Mitchell, 28, who works in e-commerce, plus our two cats, Hiro and Ron.
OUR HOME A three-bed Victorian terrace in Shoeburyness, Essex. We moved here in September 2017.
WHEN WE MOVED IN The house had been left empty for nine months and had an overgrown garden, nicotine-stained walls and damp that needed sorting straight away.
AND NOW We have fully replaced the mouldy bathroom, fitted a brand-new kitchen, replastered, painted and decorated all the rooms. Next stop – the garden.
STYLE TIP Shop your home! We created our own individual style with hand-painted walls by using paint we already had in our home.
Our previous home was a lovely new build in the countryside but our commutes were more than two hours each,’ says Laura. ‘It made sense to move closer to work, we just needed to find the right house. We had viewed around five properties when I saw this come up online – it was just down the road from Mitch’s work and is a stone’s throw from the beach. The only photo was of the front of the house but I loved it. As soon as we walked in, we knew it was the one for us. Both of our parents came to view it and thought we were crazy to take on such a huge project!
First things first
This story is from the September 2021 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 September 2021 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
