A Northern Ireland house renovator has shared a look inside her own impressive Georgian home.
Sue Wilton, @thehouserenovator, moved to Co Down in 2003 and has had the " interiors bug" from the age of 19 when she first bought her own home.
She lives in a beautiful 1780s home which is now up for sale that she has renovated herself.
The 52-year-old told Be it all began when she was a late teen - and opened up about the best things about renovating a property.
Sue said: "I was so keen to have a place of my own, did all the decorating and the interiors bug is still with me, it was around the time when you bought a sofa and the curtains to match in some flowery print.
"Given the chance I’d love to have studied interiors and but the industry was not a career choice on offer then."
She has explained why she loves her job of helping renovate homes in Northern Ireland.
Sue added: "I’m primarily a mum and have undertaken the project management on a number of renovations which has allowed me to work around the children while they have been growing up.
"The best thing about renovating is you have a home that suits you and your lifestyle, it brings a lot of work but great personal reward.
"I think that the best thing a home can offer is somewhere that you feel comfortable and safe, by renovating you are surrounded by colours and items you have chosen which make you feel happy."
Sue said it can an expensive process when renovating, depending how deep the renovation is and if you’re adding 'meterage'.
She added: "The choices are endless but at the other end of the scale you can get some great results with a tin of paint."
If you a thinking about a potential renovation, Sue advises you plan, budget and do more planning and to make sure you do what you want!
She said: "Do your homework on your trades as they aren’t all the same."
"As you can probably tell, I'm not a fan of bright colours or prints. I definitely have a neutral style which I find calming, some say boring, but that's absolutely fine, each to their own, it's important your space makes you smile.
"The high street has some great stuff, Zara and H&M are ones to keep an eye on, locally, Herbert Gould, Neptune and Dunnes. My go-to for carpet is Carpetworld, for kitchens - Stephen Thompson Kitchen Studio and curtains from Curtainflair."
Sue loves a 'period property' as the details are "so different to modern builds".
She said: "Our home was built in 1780, it would be great if the walls could talk and tell me about all the people who have lived there before us.
"As our kids are now growing up it’s time to move so it is currently on the market with Simon Brien.
"It will be difficult to find something that I love as much, so the next one might have to be completely different, to build something brand new would be an interesting challenge.
"I'm looking forward to this year to weave some magic on a ugly duckling bungalow up on the North Coast though it’s not going to be easy with Covid still meddling with us all."
