Once upon a time a boy met a girl. They decided they were going to live together, forever. But where? The girl moved into the boy's bachelor apartment whilst the search began for a home of their own. It took two years. In all this time, they only went to view five houses. They were very fussy. They could have swapped their pot of gold for a four-bedroom, new build, cleverly laid out with a playroom, study and utility, everything you need for an easy 21st century life. But, they didn't want a sensible home in the suburbs, surrounded by clones. Instead, they exchanged their bag of coins for a unique dejected two-bedroom cottage on the edge of a capital city. Whilst its skeletal structure was sound, not much else was. It was in need of intensive tender loving care. The girl and the boy spent months putting the heart back into the house. On the day the girl put up the curtains, she'd sewn by hand and the roses started to bloom again on the ancient rose bush that hugged the front door, the house became home. A few months later the boy and the girl became a mummy and a daddy. And three more years down the line, their daughter had a sister. The home that was perfect for two, was cosy for three and became squishy for four. We won planning permission six years ago to extend our house three metres upstairs and down to create a third bedroom and more living space. A Party Wall dispute put the build on hold for five years. It is impossible to convey how exciting it was when construction work finally began. Our weeny house is not quite so teeny now, but it's still not that big. It's beautiful though and our struggle to develop it has meant we are particularly attached to it. This blog is inspired by our story of how we manage to live and enjoy living in a space we've outgrown. We hope it helps you and inspires you to do the same. The Girl, The Boy, The Daughters and the latest addition The Dog!
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Who runs don't cramp our style?
Anna Tobin is a journalist and interiors stylist whose work features regularly in the national and international press. Find our more about her here |