Family,Interiors

A month in our new house

Sam in his bedroom

Sam in his bedroom

We’ve been in our new house for nearly a month now, which sounds strange when I write it down because I feel like we’ve been here no time at all. That’s probably owing to the fact we went on holiday to Portugal about a week after the move, so have had less time to really settle in and get organised. If I’m honest, because the children are at home all the time it feels like we are away on holiday rather than in a whole new house. I don’t think it will feel real until the qutumn, when Sam starts school and Florence gets sorted with a pre-school place and our routines are up and running.

The house itself is lovely; despite saying I feel like I’m on holiday it really does feel homely and has a really nice feel to it. Unlike my last house, which was a 1920s semi, this one is just a few years old, built as part of a small development just round the corner from the house I lived in when I was a baby.

New house cards

Lounge back

Despite being new it feels well-built, well thought through and it’s warm and I’m hoping it will be more economical. There are no draughts under the door, no sunlight peeking through the floorboards and no windows that have expanded so much they no longer open. I loved our Hoylake house, of course I did. It was a labour of love for Rog and I, and we really made it our own.

But I came to feel that living there wasn’t the right thing anymore, that I needed to be nearer my family, I needed that sense of home and much as I didn’t want to admit it, I needed to turn the page and move forward.

Kitchen back wall

Kitchen

So this new house is our next chapter, and so far it’s started very well. We’ve seen my parents most days, lots more of my sister and her family and my best school friends have been popping in with their kids all the time. It’s lovely, it really feels like it’s meant to be and aside from all that, it means I have another helpful distraction… decorating!

There isn’t too much that I need to do to the house really but I want to make it my own. One of the first jobs is to insulate the playroom, which is a converted garage, and create a loft space which is boarded out and fitted with a ladder to create more storage. At the moment there are boxes in every room and storage is something that needs to get sorted. My last bedroom had fitted wardrobes all along one wall and all that stuff needs somewhere to go. I currently have a list of things that can’t be found, such as my electric toothbrush charger, going out bags, emergency kids’ birthday present stash and my winter coats.

Aside from the unpacking it’s really just painting – first the accent wall in the lounge for which I’m trying to find my perfect shade of grey, then the stairs, then Sam’s bedroom.

Lounge window with Sam

Fireplace and walls

The photos I’ve taken for this post are deliberately not styled. I wanted to record a kind of ‘before’ home tour so I could show you what the house is like before I get it organised. I’m not saying it will change massively but it will change a bit, and the boxes will hopefully be gone by half-term!

One of my issues which you might be able to help with is how to fit more seating into the lounge. I really wanted to get a two-seater sofa for the end wall opposite the bay, but measuring up I’m not sure it will fit with room for my sideboard and shelves, so I’m thinking maybe an armchair on that side and a smaller accent chair in the window. Any ideas much appreciated!

X Julia

Flo's room wide

Playroom

You Are Awesome sign

Sam's clocks

Bathroom

Home Etc
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20 Comments

  • Reply
    Honest mum
    August 20, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    Congrats on your new home, it’s beautiful x

  • Reply
    Kim Carberry
    August 20, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    Your new home looks lovely. I hope you are happy in it x
    Kim Carberry recently posted…A photo everyday for a year! #Project366 – Week 33My Profile

  • Reply
    Donna
    August 20, 2016 at 10:42 pm

    Happy new home Julia. I hope you and the kids will be really happy there – it definitely sounds like the move you needed. I’m glad you have so many people around you x
    Donna recently posted…Introducing New Pampers Baby-Dry!My Profile

  • Reply
    Sue
    August 21, 2016 at 9:24 am

    How lovely to read you’re settling in well to your new home. Having the love and security of familiar faces around you with friends and family nearby cannot be underestimated. It’s great to see your home too. My suggestion to your living room seating dilemma is lose the large shelving unit from that end and put it elsewhere. Do you have a playroom area? There’s a pic with the football table in it? I’d put the shelving unit in that space, seems practical for toys, books, pictures etc and allows you more space in living room for seating. Leaving just the sideboard should free up some sofa space. Enjoy the rejigging and wishing you many happy times in your new home X

  • Reply
    Beth @ Twinderelmo
    August 21, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    Happy new home! Love the kitchen – what great use of work tops! xx
    Beth @ Twinderelmo recently posted…A Simple Stream – The Ordinary MomentsMy Profile

  • Reply
    Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely
    August 22, 2016 at 9:33 am

    Ah Julia, I hoped it would be the perfect move for you. Having family and friends around is just the best. The house is looking good despite all the things you want to do to it. It’s easier said than done, but take your time … there’s no rush to have it finished xx
    Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely recently posted…The sound of my summer with the VQ Hepburn Mk IIMy Profile

  • Reply
    teacuptoria
    August 22, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    Aw Julia it looks wonderful! I’m so pleased for you guys, especially being close to your family. Huge congrats on your new job too. You are an inspiration and Rog would be so proud of you. Tor xxx
    teacuptoria recently posted…Has Love Hijacked My Life?My Profile

  • Reply
    mummyofboygirltwins
    August 22, 2016 at 8:38 pm

    It looks great and it looks so homely already! Lots of exciting decorating jobs ahead as the walls look easy to paint and the rooms look nice and bright already! Good luck J xx
    mummyofboygirltwins recently posted…2016 trends: the pleated skirtMy Profile

  • Reply
    RachelSwirl
    August 22, 2016 at 11:55 pm

    Welcome to your new home and your next chapter.
    I wish you all the very best in your new home
    xxxx

  • Reply
    Mackenzie Glanville
    August 23, 2016 at 7:29 am

    My advice don’t rush the styling, take your time and wander through little shops and flick through magazines. Think about who you are now and the feel you want in your home. Also don’t feel because it is new that you need all new things in it. I have a new build and have brought a gorgeous desk and coffee table from the 50’s and 60’s and they look perfect. Take time to think do you want a relaxed feel, vibrant bright feel, modern, or a bit of country charm? Perhaps retro or even a mix of all your fav styles. I love that you are thinking about what will fit best. I drew a scale of my room and what furniture I was thinking of buying as it really helps to figure out if I’ll have room to move. Maybe consider and oversized chair instead of the 2 seater, this way it can fit you and a child perfect for watching a movie or snuggling up for story time. Good Luck and congrats again on your new home xx
    Mackenzie Glanville recently posted…the thing about life is we can’t control it #mgMy Profile

  • Reply
    Dr Mummykins
    August 23, 2016 at 2:50 pm

    Looks fab! I can’t wait to see how the silver accent wall pans out (give me some inspiration!) Claudia x

  • Reply
    Hannah
    August 24, 2016 at 3:09 pm

    Congratulations on your new home, it looks beautiful!

  • Reply
    Charlotte Sutton
    August 25, 2016 at 12:00 am

    We have a ‘snuggle’ chair which is much larger than an armchair but smaller than a 2/3 seater. It’s perfect to fit in awkward spaces and finishes our room off perfectly and it really is snuggly.

  • Reply
    Tracey Williams
    August 26, 2016 at 11:10 pm

    I can’t believe it has been a whole month already, and your house is looking fab already. It must be so nice to have your mum and sister around the corner now. I swear if we ever move I bet we would still be living out of boxes 6 months later. I am just about to order my daughter the same bed as Sam and Flo have x
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  • Reply
    Emma
    August 31, 2016 at 12:20 pm

    Congratulations on your new home lovely! I spent most of last week with my nose pushed up against estate agent windows in Ilkley, dreaming about coming back home to Ilkley! I know what you mean about a new build house though. I miss the character of our older properties but I do love how warm and easy to look after a new-build is 🙂 #HomeEtc
    Emma recently posted…5 Tips For Finding The Perfect SofaMy Profile

  • Reply
    Jemma Taylor-Smith
    August 31, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    It looks lovely and it’s great that it doesn’t need a load of work doing to make it a home. I look forward to seeing more as you put your own ‘stamp’ on it. Congratulations on your new home! Jemma x #HomeEtc
    Jemma Taylor-Smith recently posted…Sprucing up our kitchen with new plantsMy Profile

  • Reply
    Caro | The Twinkle Diaries
    September 6, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    WHAAAAA? How can it be a month already!!!??? I haven’t sent you the happy new home card, I have sitting on the mantlepiece, yet??? Can you please email me your address!!! So lovely to see you getting settled lovely girl — this move is just what you all needed xxxxx #HomeEtc
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  • Reply
    mummyofboygirltwins
    September 6, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    Thanks for linking up – Jess xx

    #HomeEtc

  • Reply
    Five under £5 for September - Rainbeaubelle
    September 7, 2016 at 7:16 pm

    […] we have been in the new house for more than a month, it is starting to feel less new and a little more like home. I do love […]

  • Reply
    Nicky Kentisbeer
    September 16, 2016 at 11:14 am

    Just perfect! There is a lot to be said for a new build isn’t there. I wish you all joy and happiness there. As regards the sofa, have you looked at what is referred to these days as a ‘love seat’, you can usually get two people on (or 3 smallies). Might be worth a look?
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