{"id":18188,"date":"2023-01-25T09:30:18","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T08:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=38821"},"modified":"2023-01-25T10:36:40","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T09:36:40","slug":"a-victorian-terraced-home-in-norwich","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/a-victorian-terraced-home-in-norwich\/","title":{"rendered":"A Victorian terraced home in Norwich"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By kirstylyons\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 25 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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From the kitchen units constructed from discarded packing crates to the vintage<\/a> quilts that cover every bed and sofa, almost everything in Tamsyn Morgans\u2019 possession has lived another life. Tamsyn\u2019s approach to decorating is not only kind to the environment \u2013 and her budget \u2013 but has also helped to create an individual space that inspires the photography for her lifestyle blog, The Villa on Mount Pleasant.<\/p>\n

Tamsyn\u2019s love of old things began when she was a child. \u2018At the age of 10 I started seeking out treasure at car boot sales with my father,\u2019 she says. \u2018I would soak up costume dramas on TV and especially enjoyed Little House on the Prairie. I would try to create a similarly warm and nostalgic feel in my bedroom with displays of vintage perfume bottles<\/a> and faded postcards<\/a>. I cherished the visits to my elderly grandmothers, too; both of their homes were strewn with well-used items that fascinated me. I loved imagining what tales they would tell if those objects could speak, and now, through my blog, I get to ponder these stories.\u2019<\/p>\n

Tamsyn\u2019s Victorian terraced house perches high on a hill with views down on to the grand old city of Norwich. It too had lived another life before she took it on five years ago. \u2018I spent the first six months cleaning every inch of the house, ripping up carpets and painting every surface,\u2019 she says. \u2018I did most of it myself, although I had a little help from friends and my father. He travelled up from the south coast every weekend to lend a much-needed hand, especially in the kitchen, which we gutted and rebuilt from scratch using salvaged components.\u2019<\/p>\n

Although Tamsyn had a clear idea of the feel she was trying to achieve, as a newly single mum of two starting afresh, she wanted to turn the house around as quickly as possible. \u2018I didn\u2019t want Lola and Finlay to live in a building site for too long,\u2019 she says, \u2018so white seemed the obvious choice for the walls. But, I have to say, it has stuck, as it works so well as a backdrop for my photography projects and for showing off my collections. If I want to introduce some colour, I create a display of vintage books<\/a>, prints or paintings \u2013 or I paint an old cupboard or dresser.\u2019<\/p>\n

Despite buying a few new items for the kitchen, Tamsyn has remained faithful to her 10-year-old self when sourcing other pieces for the house. She loves the feel of vintage cutlery in her hands, the soft light emanating from beneath the pleated frills of dusky pink charity shop shades and the luxuriant texture of her velvet cushions.<\/p>\n

\u2018There was an element of being mindful of my budget when furnishing the house, but there\u2019s so much more to it than that. I prefer things that are already in existence, made long ago with thought and care. For far too long we\u2019ve been a throwaway society, so I\u2019m proud to be doing my bit while proving you can have a pretty home without spending a fortune. I\u2019ve never been one to follow trends.\u2019<\/p>\n

Christmas decorating is a fine example of Tamsyn\u2019s playful styling around her home. She may have taken inspiration from Scandinavian interiors with her use of white paint, presents wrapped in brown paper and natural foliage, but her love of colour is expressed through her collection of vintage glass baubles. These jewel-like decorations are displayed on every surface: in old packaging tins and sweetie jars, dangling from twigs and trees, and even threaded with strips of vibrant sari silk and hung from old chandeliers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018About 10 years ago, I found a whole box of old baubles in a charity shop. Their delicate feel, the sparkle, and even the slightly musty smell of their cardboard tray sent my mind back to Christmases past.\u2019 Since then, Tamsyn has snapped up every set of vintage baubles she can find and has inherited a few from those much-loved grandmothers, too. She accepts that these paper-thin glass treasures are incredibly fragile so some will inevitably get broken and need to be replaced, but always with something else just as beautiful, colourful and pre-loved, like all the other cherished possessions in her inspiring home.<\/p>\n