LV Renovation Diaries: An Introduction

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Hello, fellow renovators, and welcome to Lane Valley Renovation Diaries, the ongoing personal account of what has quickly become one of the most ambitious projects we've ever taken on, and this one’s my new home in West Berkshire. And by ambitious, I mean i'm well into the ‘questioning my life choices’ phase of the journey.

Now, for some context—this isn’t my first time around the renovation block on our own home, whilst living in said home. We survived the complete overhaul of our Victorian Terrace home in Bristol. If you've ever wondered what it’s like to live in a gloriously outdated house (both structurally and aesthetically) whilst simultaneously renovating it top to toe and trying to maintain your sanity, well, that project gave us a fair amount of insight. In fact, it was ironically that very process that eventually led me into the world of Interior Design. I’ve since then been lucky enough to gain a huge amount of insight and experience into how to make a space both functional and aesthetically beautiful—though of course there are always new lessons to be learnt.

Now, onto our current home: a 1970s detached house in West Berkshire. The house was purchased as a probate, and it’s safe to say that it hasn’t seen a structural or decorative update in about 50 years. Picture, if you will, an avocado bathroom suite that might just be the most well-preserved relic of the era. And yes, there’s carpet in the bathroom—because who doesn’t want to step out of a shower onto something soft and slightly damp? It’s a truly sensual experience.

But, even with all of these delightful quirks and questionable design choices of the 70’s, it’s always really key to remember that a home’s potential isn’t determined by its decor—it’s the structure that matters most, and this house has great bones. In other words, it’s a solid foundation just waiting for a thoughtful redesign.

So, this time around, I’m bringing you along for the ride! Each month, I’ll be sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between. I’ll also provide practical design tips, lessons learned, and advice on the key principles that anyone embarking on a similar renovation should keep in mind. Whether you’re a fellow professional or someone diving into your own project, I hope to offer insight that can make your journey even a little bit smoother.

I can’t promise that every decision will go off without a hitch (because it won’t), nor can I guarantee that there won’t be moments where I question my life choices (because I will). But I can assure you that, with a little creativity, patience, and a lot of coffee, we will get there. And along the way, I’ll share everything — the fun parts, and perhaps a few of the less-than-glamorous moments too. After all, it’s about keeping it real and being transparent, and a good design journey is as much about the process as it is the final result.

Strap in, Laneys!