‘We've injected COUNTRY CHARM'

First-time buyers Hannah and Ollie have transformed their bland and characterless ex-rental through hard work and a keen eye for a bargain

- MARISHA TAYLOR

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Hannah Heemsbergen, 28, a graphic designer, and I live here with my partner Ollie Marshall, 28, a technical project manager, and our springer spaniel, Evie.

MY HOME A three-bedroom end of terrace, built in 1880 in Salisbury, which we bought in May 2018.

WHEN WE MOVED IN The house was previously rented, so it was in a serviceable condition, but it had zero character, with magnolia walls and cheap beige carpet everywhere. The kitchen was dark and dated with a poor layout and the timber floor downstairs was rotten.

AND NOW We’ve levelled the floor and laid reclaimed wood parquet. We reconfigured the kitchen, relocating the back door, and have installed a brand-new kitchen.

We bought our end of terrace, three-bedroom Victorian house three years after graduating from university in Leeds,’ says Hannah. ‘After finishing his studies in 2014, Ollie secured his dream internship at a hi-fi company based in Salisbury, and decided to make the move down south, where he rented a one-bed flat in the city centre.

Salisbury is a beautiful medieval city, full of charming, cobbled streets and historic buildings, all surrounded by national parks and world heritage sites. I still had a year left to finish my degree when Ollie started, which was difficult, with a four-hour drive each way, but with each visit I fell more in love with Salisbury. After graduating I made the move down myself and we rented a two-bed property for a few years until 2018, when we finally decided to put down solid foundations and get our foot on the property ladder.

Function but no fun