DERBYSHIRE HOUSE
Abbi Brown, creator of online emporium The Interiors Yard, has restored a run-down property into a characterful family home full of foraged finds and rustic charm
Having a chance meeting led Abbi Brown and husband Ash to stumble on the house that is now their family home. ‘We actually went to view the house next door,’ explains Abbi. ‘But on leaving, we got chatting to the people in the adjoining property who told us their home would be going on the market very soon. We went for a viewing, fell in love with it and purchased the house privately.’
The house was built in 1926 and, prior to the Browns, had been lived in by only one family. Abbi and Ash realised the potential to renovate and restore the period features and create an interior to suit their style.
‘We loved the character of the house, with its large inglenook fireplace, the original parquet and the wooden floors,’ says Abbi, adding that the extensive garden was also a huge bonus. ‘It offered up so many opportunities for entertaining, outdoor living, creating a vegetable patchandsowingawildflowergarden.’
Abbi is no newcomer to transforming the plain and rundown into something super stylish. As owner of thriving online store The Interiors Yard, she is experienced at creating timeless interiors from old pieces and rescuing and restoring items – values that underpin her business.
‘I’ve always had a love for rustic pieces that are unique to you and your home. I believe that your surroundings should be filled with items that you will enjoy for years to come and that can be re-styled seasonally,’ she explains.
So, when the renovation work began, the pair were delighted to unearth a few hidden treasures. ‘We removed the old fire surround to reveal the original inglenook fire, and under the hall carpet we discovered pristine herringbone parquet. This was such a joy to find.’
The house underwent a complete renovation,withrewiring,replastering,newcentralheatingandthedownstairs layout redesigned to allow for a larger kitchen. ‘The dining room and living room were already open plan when we bought the house, but the kitchen was fairly small. We decided to make downstairs one area, so we could fully embrace open-plan living,’ Abbi says.
AT HOME WITH
OWNERS
Abbi Brown, husband Ash, and their three-year-old daughter, Etty Florence.
HOUSE
The property, built in 1926, has an open-plan kitchen/
