Personal style can be a huge factor in interior design, with people drawing on life experiences to create a space most suited to them.
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.
Kathy, 35, and Tom, 38, describe themselves as "artistic people" and both have art degrees. They bought their house on the Wirral in July 2020, drawn to its "character and age".
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Kathy told the ECHO: "We wanted a house with character and features. In terms of history, we don't know much other than that the deeds date back to 1856 and that it was built as one of four coach houses."
Despite finding their dream home, Kathy said the space was "dark and dull" when her and Tom moved in.
She added: "Every room was painted in quite bold garish colours. We have completely repainted everywhere to make it feel much lighter and brighter. We have also made the upstairs rooms feel a lot more spacious by ripping out the endless amount of built-in wardrobes."
The couple's artistic flair came in handy when it came to putting their own stamp on the place; Kathy and Tom have made a few pieces of furniture by hand, including the dining table, the breakfast bar and a bookcase.
The result is a cosy and chic home, with natural materials such as bare brick and wood, neutral upholstery and a splashes of colour, such as black, deep blues and sage green.
House plants and natural light play a huge part in the décor, filtering in through huge sash windows.
When it comes to style inspiration, Kathy draws on a number of things, including life experience. She said: "We like to travel a lot, so I'd say a lot of inspiration comes from that. Scandinavia is one of our main choices of destination."
She added: "I also have a large collection of ideas from years of obsessing over home interiors."
After making their house a home, Kathy said she "can't see" the couple moving "anytime soon".
She added: "The area we live in nice and quiet with everything we need within a short distance."
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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