Page 44 - ESPC_Nov24
P. 44

AT HOME WITH

                                                                                            been taking our time with the interiors, and not   out of the budget, sometimes it’s better to do
                                                                                            rushing to buy furniture or décor while we get   without and save up for longer, rather than go
                                                                                            used to living in the space. We have used a lot   for a cheaper option and still crave the original
                                                                                            of colour on the walls, and plan to balance it   – within reason, of course!”.
                                                                                            with mid-century-modern furniture and lots
                                                                                            (and lots!) of texture in the soft furnishings.”  Allanah and Andy bought their double upper
                                                                                                                                  hoping it would be a longer-term home, and
                                                                                            15 months into the journey, do the couple have   now they’ve put their stamp on the place, with
                                                                                            any advice for anyone else considering a large-  more yet to come, how do they feel about it as
                                                                                            scale renovation project?             a place to put down roots?

                                                                                            “We spent a lot of time making a budget, and   “We couldn’t see ourselves leaving Edinburgh,
                                                                                            researching  tradespeople  and  fittings,  so  we   and especially not this home, for a really long
                                                                                            knew that we were in the right ballpark. Really   time,” Allanah says. “We’re excited to see how
                                                     Bathroom before and after renovation
                                                                                            interrogate everything at the viewing stage –   it evolves through time with our lives, and to
                                                                                            Andy went onto the roof three times, including   make lots of memories here.”
                                                                                            with a roofer, to get a sense of what we
                                               “Material  repair  works  have  included     were really buying, as a Home Report
                                               replacing  a  flat  roof,  chimney  repairs,   can only tell you so much. Think hard
                                               installing a new cupola, new roof            about how you would use the space:
                                               insulation,  full  electrical  rewiring,  boiler   we made a list of our non-negotiables
                                               and heating system upgrades, repairs         for some of the key renovations, and
                                               to  the  sash-and-case  windows,  and        spoke a lot about  what  we  didn’t
                                               restoration of the original wooden floors,”   want, as well as what we did. Take
       Allanah and Andy had their offer accepted, and   shares Allanah. “We’ve also upgraded the   your time and let the home come
       then found themselves in a race to sell their   1950s bathroom, which desperately needed   together on your terms. It’s so easy
       existing home. “It was much more complicated   to be rearranged – who wants a toilet in front   to look at home inspiration accounts
       than buying our first property, largely due to   of the window?! – and installed a stained-glass   on social media and feel the pressure,
       the executor’s closing process and having   window that’s consistent with other properties   but you need to go with your gut
       a  very  short  window  to  complete. Our offer   on the street. We’ve taken down some internal   (and your budget!). On that, if there’s
       was accepted on the condition that we sold   walls to create more functional space, which   something you really love but it’s
       our flat within four weeks – it was not yet on   has made a massive difference. One of the
       the market and there were some nervous   biggest jobs was ironically for the smallest
       moments as we  waited for  viewings  to turn   room  in  the  flat,  when  we  transformed  the
       into offers. During the process, we kept up to   upstairs cupboard into a tiny, yet perfectly
       date with new listings in case things didn’t go   formed WC – it’s one of my favourite spaces!”.
       our way, but thankfully that never happened. I
       also used ESPC to see what else was for sale   The property has proved to be a real labour of
       that was similar to our flat, to get a sense of the   love, but the couple aren’t planning on hanging
       properties that ours was likely being compared   up their hard hats just yet, as Allanah explains.
       to by prospective buyers”.           “We’re planning to start work in the kitchen in
                                            early 2025 while we are still in the renovation
       Thankfully, everything went to plan, and the   headspace. As far as the other rooms, we
       couple moved into their new home in June   are now in the ‘décor stage’, so although the   If you’d like to keep up with
       2023. Since then, they’ve been carrying out   rooms are still quite bare, we’re hoping to   Allanah and Andy’s renovations,
       extensive renovation works to modernise the   have them feel more homely by the end of     you can follow them on
       property, and turn it into their forever home.  the year. Because we’re still renovating, we’ve   Instagram @housedupe.

   44  |  espc.com                                                                                                                                            espc.com  |  45
   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49