A young mother who moved into an ordinary semi-detached home has turned it into an amazing family space, documenting the entire renovation online, making her a budding Instagram star.
The 1930s property changed hands in 2018, with Abbey Mercer, 27, embarking on a renovation two years on. Work included a large rear extension now housing a modern monochrome kitchen with dining and living space.
It also features a central island, vertical radiators, herringbone floors and bi-fold doors leading to the garden. Two skylights let natural light flood into the dining area. "We always knew we wanted to extend when we bought the house, but with three children aged three and under, we knew the sooner we did, the sooner our family could enjoy the benefits," Ms Mercer told the Liverpool Echo.
"We searched for the perfect property to renovate, and this was the result, with it having a large garden and driveway with space to extend. It just made sense to be able to design our own space to suit our family. I decided to make a home Instagram account to document the whole process and for friends and family to see the progress along the way. I soon realised my love for interiors and sharing ideas and tips on DIY through the home Instagram community."
The project in south Liverpool took 18 months to complete despite delays caused by the pandemic. "Due to Covid and people being stuck in their homes, everyone began renovations," she said. "With this came longer waiting times for the right tradesmen to do the job. This was definitely a set back for us and a contributing factor of the renovation taking 18 months to complete.
"Our proudest moment is looking at how far we have come and how much our home has changed. We have created our ideal family home that our children can grow up in."
Ms Mercer drew her inspiration from various interior design styles. The house has statement dark walls, including a media wall in the living space, with accents of brass, some panelling and a few houseplants, bringing warmth and traditional touches to the modern appearance. She also created her own canvas art in the dining area.
"We love dark features, hence the dark kitchen and media wall," she added. "We have quite a lot of panelling throughout the house — from hall, stairs and landing to the bedrooms, which is where we've been able to bring a bit of traditional style to our home."
While there were no other big projects on the horizon, Ms Mercer said she always has something on her to-do list. She said: "The fences at the front of the house need to be done, which we will be doing ourselves using batons in a slatted design. We want to make a pergola on the patio and also sleeper flower beds in the garden. These will be getting completed either this summer or next."
She said she would be interested in another renovation work if the time was right, although the cost of living crisis could have an impact. "The price of building materials now, though, are so high that it would all depend on if it was worth it money wise," she said. "As much as the renovation was very stressful with ups and downs, we feel so lucky to live in our home."
You can check out Abbey's home transformation on Instagram at @atthegallaghers
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