This is my home just south of Abingdon in South Oxfordshire.

It is a pretty house, hidden away just off the green next to an Abbey in an historic South Oxfordshire village. Ancient origins, added to over the centuries, in need of love.

I moved here in the summer of 2024 from a larger house nearby. Downsizing is always hard to do and requires a focused mind, a determination to edit your belongings and a very clever use of space. Strategic storage is key and the creation of a feeling of spaciousness is reassuring.

I set about the total refurbishment of the house and garden straight away and decided to tackle it in two distinct phases: garden, living areas, laundry and teens’ bedrooms first; kitchen, bathrooms and my bedroom later.