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Call me naive, but I didnt know.
Photographed by Norman Jean Roy,Vogue,September 2023
Many of them will also be able to recommend good tradespeople to work with.
Its worth putting the time and effort into finding someone good.
Dont ask, dont get!
Dont listen to your builders aesthetic advice
This is a big one.
While usually well-meaning, your builder will often step in and advise you on what you should do.
Where will the bed go?
Are you going to incorporate built-in wardrobes?
How will the doors open, and where should the light switches be for ease of use?
These things sound small but they change how you live in your house, so theyre really worth considering.
Plus, no one else will have it.
Invest in decoration
This is the bit that everyone always thinks they can do themselvesI certainly did.
The paintwork is one thing, but the prep work beneath it makes all the difference.
Trust me on this one.
Everything looks better when its been lived in
The piece of advice Id give myself?
Let go of perfection!
Nothing ever looks totally perfect, especially if youve bought an old house, which can be naturally wonky.
Instead of finding the imperfections stressful, lean into them.
And if it doesnt, fundamentally you’ve got the option to always change it.
