Buying can be a house can be a particularly stressful event in a person's life, and nine times out of ten things don't go to plan.
In our Where I Live series, the ECHO will explore one house from across the region each week, with the owner giving us an insight into how they've made their house a home.
Caroline Barnett, 32, bought her Aintree home with her husband for £135,000 and moved in July 2021. However, the couple's journey wasn't smooth.
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The mum of two told the ECHO: "It was a little stressful as we lost this house first time round and then it came back to us a few weeks later, it was like it was meant to be."
Caroline said she was drawn to the property's rich past, which remains a mystery. She added: "We have all the original deeds to the house dating back to every owner but have really struggled to find someone that can help uncover the history."
Despite the abundance of period features, the home has been brought up to date with a number of tweaks: "We have opened up the house downstairs to a more open plan living space this also lets in so much more light as the house was very dark.
"We have also redesigned the top floor to a master bedroom and created an extra two bathrooms."
Caroline has worked hard to save what she can, including restoring the fireplaces. There was once one per room, however only three were left when the family moved in - one was even boarded over but has now been given a new lease of life.
She also tried to salvage the historic tiles in the front porch but they were too damaged, and have since been replaced by a stylish monochrome pattern.
The family's semi-detached Victorian home is now an airy space, with neutral panelled walls and upholstery clashing with the rich blue galley-style kitchen. Brass fixtures and the marbled rectangular island add a pop of brightness.
Opening the space up has let natural light filter through the rooms and create a modern space.
Caroline said: "I’m very much in to neutral colours; whites, beiges, grey and black. You can’t go wrong with these colours as you can always add a bold colour if you wish.
"Personality is key - your home should showcase your personality, so don't be afraid to put a stamp on it. Always accessorise, mix textures and materials. It's not a race, remember to take your time, don't rush your decisions when it comes to your home."
Caroline added that her house and the area is well suited to her growing family. She said: "It's a forever home, in terms of square footage we wouldn’t get anything like this.
"We live right across from the racecourse so it’s very nice and iconic but also can be very busy."
Would you like to be included in the ECHO's Where I Live feature?
We'll be taking a look inside a different property each week. If you're splurging on a renovation, trying your hand at DIY to save money, or have a passion for interiors, let us know.
Please email your name and details to storm.newton@reachplc.com
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