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Laurie | Period Property Restoration(@bricksandboughs)'s profile avatar HD Profile

Laurie | Period Property Restoration

@bricksandboughs

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Restoring a Victorian home in the countryside
Greenhouse • garden • pool
Old house, country life & everything in between
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I’ve been meaning to share a post like this for a while, but with so many new faces here recently, it finally feels like the right time to properly introduce myself. When I started this account, it was simply a way to document the restoration of our 200-year-old home. I never imagined it would grow into such a wonderful community of people who share a love of old houses, gardens and creating a home. The reality behind the scenes has been far less polished. We’ve been living on a building site with two little girls, juggling full-time jobs while project managing every stage of the renovation. It has been exhausting, and there have been moments when sharing it all felt like one more thing to do. Now that the dust is finally beginning to settle, I feel ready to look back, tell the stories behind this house and share more of the journey with you - the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Because while it hasn’t been easy, I wouldn’t change it for the world. The best stories rarely are. So thank you for being here, for your kindness, your encouragement, and for following along as we slowly bring this country house and garden back to life. I have a feeling some of my favourite chapters are still to come... 🤍 _ English country cottage, period property, countryside living UK, traditional English interiors, family life, life after London, moving to the countryside, heritage home inspiration, motherhood and business, rural lifestyle UK, homestead, restoration project, raising children in the countryside, English interiors, Victorian greenhouse, greenhouse goals, renovation diaries, staffie, Staffordshire bull terrier #englishcountryhome #countrysideliving #periodhome #restoration #leavinglondon by @bricksandboughs
One of my favourite September rituals is bringing a little piece of the garden indoors. Our hydrangeas have been beautiful this year, and rather than letting the last blooms disappear, I’m drying some to enjoy throughout autumn and winter. I love that you can preserve so much of what makes a garden special. Not perfectly, but naturally. As they dry, the colours soften and change, becoming something completely different but just as beautiful. A little reminder that the end of summer doesn’t have to mean the end of the garden. Do you dry flowers from your garden? - September in the English countryside, early autumn, seasonal living, English country cottage, cottage garden, country living, late summer days, autumn in England, September garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life, dried flowers, Victorian greenhouse #driedflowers #cottagegarden #englishcottage #autumninengland #inmygardentoday by @bricksandboughs
When designing our family bathroom, I was searching for the perfect butter yellow. A shade that felt warm and playful, while sitting effortlessly alongside terracotta tiles, aged brass and natural wood. I kept coming back to this colour from @mylands_london, and the moment it went on the walls, I knew it was the one. What I didn’t expect was how beautifully the morning light would transform the space. As the sun rises, the walls glow, filling the room with the softest golden light. It’s become one of my favourite moments of the day 💛 _ #victorianrestoration #bathroomdesıgn #bathroominspiration #interiorinspo #periodproperty Victorian restoration, home renovation, bathroom design, family home project, period property renovation, interior transformation, renovation journey, UK home renovation, country house UK, modern family living, heritage home, house renovation progress, before and after renovation, functional family spaces, home improvement project, restoring period homes, renovation diary, dream family bathroom, daily rituals, slow living, sun rise by @bricksandboughs
A little Halloween magic in our Victorian greenhouse in the woods. I couldn’t resist adding a few witchy touches this year, with suspended witch hats and floating LED taper candles from @lights4fun All that’s needed now is a pumpkin spice latte and a little Practical Magic. 🕯️🍂 _ October in the English countryside, autumn, seasonal living, English country cottage, cottage garden, country living, autumn in England, October garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life, Halloween, spooky season, witchcraft, Victorian greenhouse, greenhouse goals #EnglishCountryside #halloween #halloweendecor #EnglishCottage #inmygardentoday by @bricksandboughs
The sort of place where a little bit of magic feels entirely possible ✨ _ Victorian restoration, home renovation, family home project, period property renovation, country house UK, heritage home, country home and garden, family life, October in the English countryside, seasonal living, English country cottage, country living, autumn in England, October garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life, witchcraft, witching house, Halloween, spooky season, childhood memories #EnglishCountryside #CountryLiving #EnglishCottage #VictorianHouse # by @bricksandboughs
It’s October, but I can’t help thinking about Christmas and bringing the garden indoors for the season ahead. This year, I’m making the bases for our Christmas wreaths from this summer’s new growth on our grapevine, using the supple young vines to gently weave each one into shape before bringing them indoors to dry slowly over the coming weeks. Once they’ve dried and strengthened, they’ll be ready to adorn with beautiful winter foliage, gathered from the garden too. A little autumn ritual, and one I hope will become a family tradition for years to come. 🌿 _ October in the English countryside, autumn, seasonal living, English country cottage, cottage garden, country living, autumn in England, October garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life, dried flowers, Victorian greenhouse, Christmas wreath, Christmas in Surrey, Christmas planning, foraging for foliage, grape vine #driedflowers #cottagegarden #englishcottage #autumninengland #inmygardentoday by @bricksandboughs
Easing our way into spooky season the best way we know how. Slow mornings, countryside walks, long fireside pub lunches and evenings on the sofa, preferably with a glass of something in hand. September brought us an Indian summer, which I was never going to complain about, but now I think I’m officially ready to fully embrace the ‘ber months. Here’s to lighting all the candles, getting all the blankets out and settling into the cosiest time of year. This old house is going to get chilly! 🍂 _ October in the English countryside, early autumn, seasonal living, English country cottage, cottage garden, country living, late summer days, autumn in England, October garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life #EnglishCountryside #CountryLiving #CottageGarden #EnglishCottage #autumninengland by @bricksandboughs
What a difference two weeks makes. 🍂 From basking in the early morning October sunshine and picking apples in the garden, to eerie mists, pumpkin picking and toasting marshmallows around the fire. I’ve loved watching the seasons shift and finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors as the days grow shorter and the air turns colder. There’s something rather special about outdoor living at this time of year. Just a few extra layers, a crackling fire and a reason to stay outside a little longer. October, you’re a rather lovely thing. Candle @plumandashby Teapot & mug @falconenamel Tablecloth @by.hope.home Firebowl @gardentradingcompany _ October in the English countryside, autumn, seasonal living, English country cottage, cottage garden, country living, late summer days, autumn in England, October garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life, Victorian greenhouse, picking apples, blackberries, Victorian greenhouse, morning ritual, slow weekend inspiration, slow living, morning brew, morning tea, pumpkin picking, harvest #cottagegarden #englishcottage #autumninengland #inmygardentoday #Weekendplans by @bricksandboughs
There’s something about lighting a candle on a grey autumn morning that brings a little warmth and magic to the day. As we squeeze the last drop out of this Indian summer, I’m slowly starting to transition our home into autumn. My @plumandashby Mandarin & Ginger feels like the perfect scent for this in-between season, fresh, just-squeezed citrus with the heat of ginger and warmth of cedarwood underneath. A small ritual, but somehow the perfect way to start an autumn morning. __ October in the English countryside, autumn, seasonal living, English country cottage, cottage garden, country living, autumn in England, October garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life, pumpkins, light the good candles, lighting candles, autumn rituals, Victorian greenhouse #candles #cottagegarden #englishcottage #autumninengland #inmygardentoday by @bricksandboughs
I wish I could say this room was a quick transformation, but the truth is it had stalled at the point of mist coat. After taking the summer off from decorating, it was finally time to get this room moving again and give our almost-three-year-old her first big-girl bedroom for her birthday… Which gave me four days. What started as a shell of a loft space has quickly become one of my favourite, most whimsical rooms in the house. A childhood bedroom tucked high up in the trees, with views over the surrounding ancient woodland. It’s by no means finished, but I’m learning that slow progress is still progress, and I’m rather enjoying watching this little room come to life. __ Victorian restoration, home renovation, children’s bedroom design, family home project, period property renovation, interior transformation, renovation journey, UK home renovation, country house UK, modern family living, heritage home, house renovation progress, before and after renovation, functional family spaces, home improvement project, restoring period homes, renovation diary, little girls bedroom, first bedroom #beforeandafter #interiorinspo #home #periodproperty #englishcottage Before anything else, every floor joist needed to be replaced. Yes, we were living in the room below at the time. Insulated, plastered and new @quickstepfloors were soon installed. Finally, we had something that resembled an actual room. An idea to design my own headboards had me gathering variously sized round objects from around the house… …to create the perfect template. Which we then cut from a leftover piece of panelling from our pantry. We’ve used @littlegreenepaintcompany throughout most of the house and love the timeless matt finish and depth of colour. The Intelligent Matt finish is particularly well suited to children’s bedrooms, as marks can simply be wiped away with warm, soapy water. Which, with a three-year-old, is essential. Late night No. 1: contrasting woodwork. Because four days wasn’t quite enough pressure. Ultimately, we’ll replace most of the windows throughout the house, but for now, a lick of paint has given these tired frames a new lease of life. Late night No. 2: b by @bricksandboughs
Just trying to get one nice shot of the tomatoes. The ducks had other plans. 🦆 _ September in the English countryside, early autumn, seasonal living, English country cottage, cottage garden, country living, late summer days, autumn in England, September garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life, slow living, kitchen garden, Indian runner ducks #cottagegarden #englishcottage #inmygardentoday #ducks #ducksofinstagram by @bricksandboughs
Welcoming the first weekend of October the best way we know how. Slow mornings, countryside walks, long fireside pub lunches and evenings on the sofa, preferably with a glass of something in hand. September brought us an Indian summer, which I was never going to complain about, but now I think I’m ready to fully embrace the ‘ber months. Here’s to lighting all the candles, getting all the blankets out and settling into the cosiest time of year. This old house is going to get chilly! 🍂 _ October in the English countryside, early autumn, seasonal living, English country cottage, cottage garden, country living, late summer days, autumn in England, October garden, slow seasonal living, cosy autumn, countryside life #EnglishCountryside #CountryLiving #CottageGarden #EnglishCottage #autumninengland by @bricksandboughs

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