Buying a property can often usher in a fresh start for a lot of people, giving them a space they can call their own.
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. Emma McKevitt, 34, got the keys to her Aigburth apartment in March 2020, days before the first Covid-19 lockdown and just months after losing both of her parents.
She told the ECHO: "I was living in my family home and taking care of my mum after my dad passed. I have a twin sister and two brothers, we decided to sell the family home after we lost my mum because it felt too sad to be there."
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On the hunt for a home with character, Emma viewed her flat with her sister, niece and her best friend. She added: "As soon as we walked into the living room, we all looked at each other in excitement because we knew it was the one. The mezzanine and location totally sold it to me."
The location is "perfect" for the interior designer - it's a two-minute walk from Sefton Park and a stone's throw from Lark Lane.
The sales process was stressful however. Two days before the sale of her parents' house was due to complete, outstanding issues arose with the owner of the apartment and Emma was forced to move in with her now fiancé.
Emma said: "We’d already agreed a date with the buyers to move in so it left me in a tricky position as I didn’t want to lose the sale. This obviously caused a lot of stress and tears.
"At this point I’d met my boyfriend and had only known each other a few months. I moved into his and put everything I owned, including a lot of my parents' things into a storage unit."
When she finally got her keys, Emma said she wanted to "change everything" and the pandemic brought a "perfectly timed opportunity". She was put on furlough, so treated the renovation of her apartment as a full-time job, cutting costs where possible.
Emma added: "The walls were chocolate brown, the kitchen was dark and dated and the flooring was not to my taste.
"I have taught myself a lot of DIY, I even did the wall panels in my living room myself and painted the whole apartment. Something my dad would be proud of."
Emma has gained thousands of followers on Instagram since starting the project and said she's all about neutrals when it comes to interior style.
"Being an interior designer, I design a lot of colourful show homes and rarely get to put my own personal stamp on a property. After a difficult few years I wanted to create a calming space, that was paramount.
"I’m drawn to warm tones, lots of textures and light colours. My favourite thing about my apartment is mixing different styles, old and new. Modern furniture with timeless details like wall panels, shaker style kitchen cupboards and plantation shutters. Teamed with iconic pieces like my wishbone dining chairs."
Emma is now looking forward to a future with her new fiancé and is actually selling her apartment to buy their dream home together. While she is "sad" to see it go, she's looking forward to a potential new addition - a sausage dog.
She added: "I’d love a sausage dog but I wouldn’t love trips down two floors during the night if the dog needed to go outside. I definitely want a house so I can finally get one."
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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