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After searching high and low for the perfect reno project, Bristol natives Leanna and Ed finally found what they were looking for, a two-bedroom Victorian home in Bedminster. We headed down to Beryl Road to find out more.
“This was our first project as a couple, and for me, one of the most important boxes for us to tick when looking was that it needed to be a Victorian home as I love the period features and a property with a bit of charm,” explains Leanna. “Ed really wanted somewhere that needed some work, but I wasn’t so sure, and so I think that’s why it took us a while to find something. After starting our search in 2019, it wasn’t until January 2021 that we finally moved in, and the work pretty much started straight away.”
With Ed, a financial advisor, and Leanna, a business developer, both working from home, it was a bit of a struggle balancing home life, work and all things reno. “It was a bit tricky for us as there ended up being more for us to do than we originally thought. We replaced the windows as soon as we were in which was a lovely little surprise, and we knew the roof needed some work, so we had actually booked the work before we moved in, just because we knew that there would be a bit of a backlog in booking tradesmen given COVID, and even then we still got delayed three times. We had a grand idea for it to be done in six months or less in our heads! For us, this renovation became a real learning experience, discovering what works, what doesn’t, how long certain things take, all whilst trying to stick to a budget!” adds Ed.
As first-time fixer-uppers, the couple used Instagram as the main source for inspiration. “Bristol has some amazing home renovation Instagram accounts, and they served as amazing inspiration for us to see how the finished project can look”, explains Leanna. “The main thing we kept in mind throughout when planning was ensuring that the homes’ original features shone through, we wanted to do the house justice. One room that needed a lot of work was our main bedroom, and for a while, it felt like we only had one bedroom. The finished room is now one of our favourites,” says Leanna. “The garden is a favourite for me!” adds Ed. “I know it isn’t technically a room but it’s such a great space for socialising, especially in the summer.”
Both originally from Bristol, the couple knew that they wanted to be south of the river, and after looking for months around Brislington and Victoria Park, when a Bedminster gem became available, they jumped at the opportunity. “We absolutely love Bedminster and BS3 in general really, we always have. North street just has everything you need, the local independent cafes, shops, bars and bakeries, all within a short walking distance from the house! We weren’t sure if we would be able to afford in the Bedminster area when we initially started looking, but taking our time paid off in the end!”.
After sinking their teeth into this project, the couple has caught the renovation bug, and with both of them working from home, Bristol is their oyster for what’s next. “We know that we want to stay in Bristol, but with our home working situation, we could afford to look out a little further. It’s going to be really hard leaving this home and the area, the more we speak about it, the more we realise how much we love it! Bedminster has a community spirit unlike anywhere else, and our road is amazing, with street parties throughout the year, our neighbours are so friendly and there’s a real sense of belonging here. Despite some long, stressful, sleepless nights, the finished home makes the journey absolutely worth it, and we can’t wait to take what we’ve learned from this process and get going on project number two!”.
