We took our home back to its period roots

Feature and Styling Mairi MacDonald Photographs Douglas Gibb

Buying a house was not an option for textile designer, Amy Buchanan, so she’s put her mark on the family home, including her own shed!

Welcome to my home

A bit about me

I‘m Amy Buchanan, 24, a textile designer (bertyb.co.uk). I live with my parents, Anne and Graham, and my sister, Lucy.

Where i live

We live in a Victorian semi-detached villa in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, which has three bedrooms and a large shed which I use as my studio.

What i wanted to change

We wanted to change the ultra-modern and very dark décor – it was all very out of context with the house’s cottage style.

How i made it my own

We stripped all the floors and painted every room, and refitted the kitchen and bathroom.

My favourite part

I love working in my shed. In the summer I open the double doors to the garden outside, and in the winter I have a large patio heater which heats the space up a treat!

Living room

To give the space a country feel, the Buchanans have stripped the floorboards, fireplace, skirting boards and windows, then waxed all but the shutters to a rich lustre. Painted white walls keep the space clean and uncluttered, allowing the rich colours of the rug, furniture and soft furnishings to stand out, whilst quirky and fun objects found by the family are displayed on painted shelves.