IDEAL HOMES
IDEAS HOME
DESPITE A TIGHT BUDGET, MICHAELA SHOEBRIDGE AND HER PARTNER LEE MODERNISED A DATED ’80S BUNGALOW TO CREATE A RELAXED, CALIFORNIAN-STYLE HOME IN THE HEART OF YORKSHIRE
Living room
‘The brickwork has been exposed and limewashed and we fitted faux beams to the ceilings to hide old light fittings. It also adds character and a natural touch to the living and dining areas.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES: Model 03 three-seater sofa in Pumice Linen, £2,385, Swyft Home. Romy square metal coffee table, £325; Rabisco Berber-style XL rug, £375, both La Redoute
HOME NOTES
WHO LIVES HERE? Slovakian born Michaela Shoebridge, a content creator @mishkashoe, lives here with her partner Lee, who works in sales and marketing, along with their four cats, Frank, Christian, Bella and Eddie.
THE PROPERTY A four-bedroom bungalow built in the 1980s in East Yorkshire. They bought it in 2019.
THE LAYOUT
All the rooms lead from an L-shaped hallway. One side opens into the living, dining and conservatory areas, which has a partial wall and central fireplace to create a divide. The kitchen and utility room are accessed from the dining area. On the other side are the couple’s bedroom, study and family bathroom.
B eingon a tight budget to renovate their new home didn’t stop Michaela Shoebridge and her partner Lee from turning a dated bungalow into their dream home. By getting creative and watching videos online to learn new skills, they’ve created a beautiful home to be proud of.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROPERTY?
‘As first-time buyers we were keen to find something we could develop over time, ideally in a rural spot. We had been renting locally for two years, keeping an eye on properties that were coming onto the market – this four-bedroom bungalow on the outskirts of Hull was perfect. We loved that the rooms were well proportioned and it had a generous footprint, large back garden and bags of potential to extend and add value.’
WHAT CONDITION WAS THE PROPERTY IN?
‘The property was built in the 1980s and although it needed updating, wasn’t in bad condition. Most of the house had been decorated in magnolia and was bland and lacking character. In stark contrast was the red kitchen, which I’m sure was the height of fashion in the early ’90s, but really was a sight to behold! Unfortunately, we had a big setback while we were waiting for the sale to go through. There was a severe cold snap and the water tank froze, causing the pipes to burst and flood the entire house. There was a lot of water damage which had to be addre
