Hilary Marconetto and her family have spent the past 13 years restoring and modernizing a Victorian-style home in West Bridgford, near Nottingham. The six-bedroom property, built in the early 1900s, had been owned by only two previous occupants: an elderly man who lived there from 1947 and his sons. When the Marconettos moved in, the house lacked central heating and retained outdated features such as a large water tank in the back room.

Marconetto, who has had a long-standing passion for interiors, sought to blend the home’s original characteristics with contemporary design elements. She emphasized preserving details like fireplaces, sash windows, picture rails, and the distinctive Victorian-style Minton flooring in the hallway, pointing out that many older homes had their unique features stripped away during modern renovations in the 1970s. Her approach combines vintage, antique, and charity shop finds with modern furnishings, creating a balanced aesthetic. For example, the living room features a mid-century sofa placed alongside an Edwardian chair that belonged to her mother. The Minton tiles, with intricate patterns highlighted by contemporary yellow accents, remain a central feature.

The house has evolved alongside the family. When they moved in, Marconetto was expecting her youngest daughter, Florence, while her twins, Alfie and Ava, were four years old. Now, with the children older and recently finishing their GCSEs, the family home is adapting again. Florence’s newly redecorated bedroom, painted in tonal shades, represents a subtle departure from Marconetto’s usual colorful style.

The garden has also undergone a transformation. Once a lively play area for the children, it is now a tranquil space, highlighted by a garden studio designed to blend harmoniously with its natural surroundings. The studio’s olive green exterior and similarly toned windows and doors create a calm atmosphere, while the interior reflects the home’s color palette with pink, ochre, green, and blue accents. A terracotta-tiled standing desk within the studio provides a workspace that complements Marconetto’s interior design activities. Surrounding planters filled with catmint add further color and texture.

Marconetto’s interest in interior design led her to establish her own business eight years ago. Her previous career included recruitment roles focused on design and marketing agencies and work with a university interior architecture department, where she helped students find placements. Reflecting on her career shift at age 40, she credits the process of renovating her home as pivotal in building the confidence to launch her interior design practice, providing a practical portfolio and firsthand experience.

Marconetto and her husband Dan, who works in technology, both work from home, allowing for more family time. The kitchen remains a central gathering space for the family, a place that has seen everything from lively children’s disco parties to quieter moments shared over meals.