6 Things to Consider when Buying a Thatched Cottage

Buying a home with a thatched roof can feel daunting as it’s very likely something you’ve never done before, or for that matter, know anyone else who has either. When we were looking to purchase our thatched cottage four years ago, I remember spending a lot of time on Google where research can run from highly terrifying to downright silly and everything in between.

Four years on, we are very happy in our home. The renovation journey has been a bit of a wild ride but we love the space we have here and feel very grateful to call this our home. There are some things we researched a lot before we moved (ie. rodents!) and other things we should have but didn’t (house insurance!) so I hope this guide is useful to you, as I share with a little hindsight now, what you should consider before buying your first thatched home.

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RHS Flower Shows: Chelsea vs Hampton Court

My Thoughts On20 September 2024Flower Show, Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court, RHS Chelsea, RHS HamptonComment

Camping Packing List for Families

First up let’s get things straight. I hate camping. There I said it. It makes no sense to me to make life harder on a ‘holiday’, but for many many years it’s been all we can afford, the kids LOVE it, our friends love it, so it’s what we do! It’s what I grew up doing and what we’ve done every summer since having children.

In this sense though I feel I am well qualified to give out packing tips. We have friends who love it so much they’re like, ‘Oh, its fine, just a tent and a sleeping bag and a pocket knife and you’ll hAvE tHe BeSt TiMe.’ I wish on every level I could be this carefree but the reality is, that just ain’t me.

My Interior Edits, My Thoughts On9 July 2024Comment

Living with bare plaster walls - and why it didn’t work for us

If you’re having your walls skimmed or plastered and are considering leaving them unpainted because you love the bare plaster look - this blog post is for you.

As a fan of muted peachy pinks, I have also always loved the bare plaster look, especially as it provides so much texture, similar to many of the lime wash paint effects that are so popular at the moment. Having had a disaster with natural lime wash paint already, I’ve never been tempted to try that again, however bare plaster felt like an achievable way to get a similar effect with minimal effort.

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Fun garden room ideas for your outdoor space

As the housing market remains stagnant and rent and interest rates high, moving home or upsizing has never felt so unappealing (and that’s coming from someone who loves moving house!) So it’s not surprising that we are all looking for ways to maximize the space we already have. With the cost of materials and labour for extensions also high at the moment, if you’re looking for extra room in your home - it’s time to start thinking outside the box, looking towards your garden and how you can make your outdoor space work harder to meet your needs.

Eleven UK Interiors and DIY Instagram Accounts to Follow

If you’ve followed me a while you’ll know I am multifaceted - as we all are - and therefore my account reflects that. Whilst the algorithm may reward you for sticking to a niche and I for one ensure 99% of my content is interiors and diy based, there are some things that are too important not to speak out about.

If you’re a lover of interiors and diy inspiration but also have a heart for something more substantial too, here are my top recommendations for other Instagram accounts to follow.

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 Press Day Highlights

This is my third trip to The RHS Chelsea Flower Show and certainly my favourite so far. Whilst lasts years gardens focused on a freer more wild meadow style of gardening, this show felt like it had an abundance of colour and spectacular flowers on display with serene water features appearing through out.

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Should I paint my exposed wooden beams?

This is a controversial topic and before we begin, I’m not going to pretend to be an expert in restoring houses nor am I someone who will slap paint here, there and everywhere without any consideration. However, our homes are for us to live in and enjoy. They are not monuments to a bygone era and they are not a relic of the past. Yes, we need to make wise choices regarding their maintenance (letting material breathe etc) but I’ve never been a purist and therefore the answer to the paint or no paint on the exposed wooden beams has never been black and white for me.

Living with a thatched roof: The pros and cons

We’ve been living in our 400 year old thatched cottage for almost three years now, and, as it’s a relatively rare roof type for houses in the UK, feel like I can give a little insight into our experience so far.

In fact, there are only 35,000 thatched homes in the UK, of which 24,000 are listed, which means that thatched homes make up for just 0.1% (and unlisted thatched homes, likes ours, make up for 0.04%). There are many pros and cons to living and owning a home with a thatched roof, but it is undoubtedly the aesthetic that draws most people in to their charms. The unique, soft, country look, can certainly appear whimsical and romantic and the perfect backdrop for a wild cottage garden or a glisteningly white snowy day.

However, are they as magical to live with as they appear in a photograph?

DIY & Crafts, My Thoughts On4 September 2023 Comments