Maison Bailey
Lifestyle blogger Jenny Lambert shares her learnings from two renovation projects in Tunbridge Wells and Wadhurst…
Moving to Tunbridge Wells
“Buy the worst house on the best street” was advice that kept finding us when we were looking to move from London to Tunbridge Wells. I grew up in East Sussex and had always loved this pretty spa town. When we realised it took the same time to get from Tunbridge Wells to London as it does travelling east-to-west across London on the tube, it was a no-brainer. The house hunt commenced!
We found the perfect project house in the St James area – it hadn’t been touched since the 1970s, although you could tell it had once been a dearly loved family home. We took on most of the labouring and decorating to stay on budget. Walls were knocked down to create an open plan kitchen / diner that opened out into the garden. A bedroom was turned into a bathroom and a loft conversion was completed to regain the extra room. We lived there between 2012-2017 and had the most wonderful time – especially as it was located so close to Grosvenor & Hilbert Park and only a short walk to Dunorlan Park. Having shops and restaurants nearby was also fantastic.
Baby Arrival
We welcomed our son into the world at Pembury Hospital in December 2016. Trying to navigate parenthood for the first time was made that little bit easier having everything we needed on our doorstep. Boots, Mothercare, parks, breastfeeding-friendly cafés, soft play, baby classes e.g. Baby Yoga, Baby Sensory, Monkey Music… you name it, Tunbridge Wells offered it. It really is the best place to raise a family – so much to do and so much support available.
When our son started to crawl, we quickly realised our home didn’t have the downstairs or outdoor space we needed, especially if we decided to expand our family. In 2017, we made the decision to renovate a 1930s property in Wadhurst, only a 10-minute drive from Tunbridge Wells and two stops further on the train.
Moving to Wadhurst
We lived with my parents in East Sussex for eight weeks while the big building work was completed. As soon as our new home was warm, safe and our son’s room was fully decorated and ready for him, we moved in. My husband and I both grew up in the countryside so we wanted to offer our son the same experience. Having Bewl Water so near is such a treat. But we couldn’t move too far from Tunbridge Wells, as I love it too much! We pop there a couple of times a week at least, whether it’s to shop, eat or catch up with friends.
My Décor Style
I didn’t think I had a certain style when it came to home décor, but when I scroll through my Instagram feed, it’s hard to spot when I moved house-! I don’t like abiding to one particular style e.g. vintage, modern – but I do love a neutral wall and a pop of pink! When it comes to making my home, here are a few of my favourite things:
- Grey and pink
- Candles
- Fresh flowers
- Rolltop baths
- Built-in bookcases
- Upcycled furniture
- Cosy lighting
- Flamingos
- Alice in Wonderland
- Paris
- Personalised art
- Wicker baskets
See the above in action over on my Instagram or take a look at some before and afters, quick tricks and shop the looks on my blog: www.maisonbailey.com
My best décor advice: keep it personal and make it work with your lifestyle. Don’t conform to trends unless you love them. Be smart with your storage and if you ever need inspiration, Pinterest is an ideas emporium.
My favourite places to shop home décor in Tunbridge Wells:
Bargain finds:
- HomeSense
- TK Maxx
- The Range
- Jeremy’s Home Store
- Mark Maynard
- Sainsbury’s
- Wilko
- Camden Road charity shops
Something special:
- Oliver Bonas
- Cath Kidston
- Lakeland
- Fenwick
- M&S (retail park)
- John Lewis At Home (retail park)
Jenny is a freelance writer with 10 years’ experience at London agencies in both print and online media. She is available for projects - you can contact her via jenny@maisonbailey.com
