SPARKLE & SHINE

At Christmas, Amber and Nick Hopkins' Victorian terrace is transformed into a magical space filled with glittering and joyful touches

- MARISHA TAYLOR

After three years living in Sydney, Amber, a flora and fauna artist, and her husband Nick, who works in tech, had settled happily in southwest London with their daughter Harper, now six.

They loved the area's leafy streets, relaxed neighbourhood feel and easy access to the city.

When they discovered Amber was expecting their second child, Hamish, now four, they knew it was time to find a larger home - but staying in the area was nonnegotiable.

'We actually dismissed this house at first,' Amber admits. 'It was out of our budget, but I couldn't stop looking at the listing.

It was only a street away from where we lived, had already been extended with a basement and side return and had a quirky 1980s loft dormer that made it more spacious than other homes nearby.