Almost Every Inch of This Super-Cozy 872-Square-Foot Home Had to Be Reimagined

“I was one of 17 bids for another house I saw, so by the time I got to this one, I was getting a little desperate,” Emily says. “I put my heart and soul into a letter to the owner describing why I should be the offer they accepted, and it worked! It had been in their family for over 50 years, and they wanted someone who was going to show it love.”

Emily knew from the beginning that she would have to live in the house as she renovated, as she couldn’t afford to rent elsewhere. Initially, she had no heating or boiler, which also meant no hot water; with just a handheld shower and hardly any water pressure, she would have what she called “sad sit-down showers.”

“The hardest part was the mental challenge of living in a mess all of the time. I’m not a super-tidy person, but being surrounded by mess, I had a couple of really low moments, and I realized that that’s all it was,” Emily explains. “It was just not having a place to relax, and it made me realize how important your home is for that.”

Working as a vet during the day, Emily would finish work and start on her second ‘job,’ renovating the house, with the company of her cat, Harry.

“The kitchen was horrible,” Emily says with a laugh, explaining the back window didn’t exist, so it was incredibly dark and at least 50 percent mold. “Then for so long it was just concrete, brick dust, tarpaulin, and this boarded-up window,” so the moment they lifted off the blackboard and the light spilled in was monumental. Another big moment was the day the carpet went in: “The cat and I just went and laid on the carpets. He’d hated the floorboards! So we just laid in the sun on the carpet,” Emily remembers. 

When it came to home decor, Emily was excited to be able to explore her creativity. She did a short online course, where they recommend writing down everything you like — her list consisted of flowers, gardens, nature, and the sea. She noticed an obvious theme of the natural world, and this led her to the earthy tones you now see throughout her home.

Other things came to her while the house was in progress. For example, while the lounge was being redone, the plaster walls inspired her, and she ended up choosing a paint color in a very similar shade. Above all else, she wanted the rooms to flow and come together as one home.

One of the biggest things the journey taught Emily was not to be afraid to ask for help. She often found herself reluctant to reach out, but it made all the difference when her friends showed up at 8 a.m. to help strip wallpaper. She also emphasizes the importance of creating little sanctuaries throughout the chaos of building work — she would always try to have at least one room that was put together and cozy so she could go in there and close the door on the rest of the house.

Worlds away from the sad-sit-down-showers and building site it once was, Emily has created the sanctuary she always wanted and now shares it with her partner, who she met halfway through this journey.

“When I started the renovation, it was just me and my very tolerant cat, Harry,” Emily shares. “Now my partner has moved in, and it feels like it is becoming the home I described in the letter to the previous owner. I hope I’ve given it the love they hoped for.”

• Living Room — Farrow and Ball “Setting Plaster & School House White”
• Kitchen — Dulux “Fine Cream”
• Dining Room — Dulux “Heritage Brushed Gold & Fine Cream”
• Hallway — Farrow and Ball “School House White”
• Main Bedroom — Lick “Pink 02” and Farrow and Ball “Card Room Green”
• Second Bedroom — Dulux “Burnt Autumn 4”
• Bathroom — Dulux “Sandy Steps” and my own mix!

• Rug — Dunelm 

• Sofa and Armchair — Facebook Marketplace
• Rug — H&M (Sold Out)
• Singer Table — Inherited

• Armchair — ​Car Boot Sale
• Bar — Facebook Marketplace
• Cupboard — Inherited

• Units — ​DIY Kitchens
• Countertop — Worktop Express
• Shelving — Wood Store Brighton
• Handles — Plank

• Bed — Next
• Curtains — Dunelm
• Drawers, Bedside Tables — Facebook Marketplace

• Suite — City Plumbing

Thanks, Emily!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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