21 h. ago ‘I made it my mission to befriend the owner we ended up swapping houses’: a refurbishment 14 years in the making

After falling in love with an Edwardian house up the street, interior designer Fiona Duke had to bide her time before the owner was ready to sell. Thanks to a clever mix of retro and contemporary design, it was worth the wait‘I’m an Essex convert,” says interior designer Fiona Duke. “We moved here from London, having been to a funeral nearby, and fell for the fabulous community vibe.” Duke and her husband’s first purchase was a Victorian terrace, but even then she had her eye on the big, detached Edwardian house up the road: “I made it my mission to befriend the owner, in case she ever decided to sell. I was up there a lot!”It took eight years but her persistence paid off. After many evenings involving wine and a lot of begging not to sell to anyone else, the neighbour finally revealed she wanted to downsize. “I was poised to strike, but was convinced it would fall through” says Duke. “We ended up swapping houses, which was an unusual way to move, but it suited us bot...

Events

5 d. ago London leaver: 'we sold up in Tooting for £635k and spent £1.1m on a house in Hove'

London leaver: 'we sold up in Tooting for £635k and spent £1.1m on a house in Hove'  London Evening Standard

Economics

6 d. ago London leaver: 'we sold our Tooting flat for £635k and have spent £1.1m on a house in Hove'

Initially reluctant to move out of south London, this family ended up upsizing on the coast

Economics

9 d. ago London leaver: 'I was exhausted by London hustle culture — then I met a farmer from the Cotswolds'

Entrepreneur Samanah Duran was paying £1,600 a month on her West Kensington flat

Politics

1 week ago London leaver: 'we moved to Essex to save on rent then realised we could buy instead'

Thanks to a low-deposit first-time buyer scheme this couple discovered they could buy a new home right away rather than trying to save while renting

Politics

3 w. ago Inside Love Island's Maura Higgins' new £1.2m home as she 'finally' gets 'dream house'

Love Island star Maura Higgins has given fans a look inside her stunning new Essex home after confirming she has 'finally' moved in following a 'busy few months'

Society

3 w. ago London leaver: 'we swapped a Battersea townhouse for 25 acres near the Devon coast'

From a few rodent pets to a smallholding on Exmoor, this family made more than a change of address when they swapped Battersea for Devon

Politics