In the latest installment of What I Own, Metro’s property series, we meet Serena, who along with her husband Michael and their two children, purchased a historic Georgian farmhouse in Leadenham, Lincolnshire, for £825,000. The family has since embarked on a comprehensive renovation, spending approximately £50,000 to date.
The Property Journey
Serena discovered the property while casually browsing Rightmove. The rustic farmhouse immediately caught her attention, despite the family living in a new-build home at the time. After a six-month wait to view the property, they decided to take a leap of faith, selling their previous home in just two weeks. The estate required a cash buyer, which added to the challenge, but their offer was accepted contingent on the sale of their existing home.
Location and Area
The farmhouse is situated in Leadenham, a small estate village about 12 miles from Lincoln. The area is deeply agricultural, with the property being one of four Georgian tenant farmhouses built to house farmers for the nearby Manor House, which has been in the Reeve family for centuries. The other three farmhouses remain rented out, while this one was sold to Serena and Michael three years ago.
Serena appreciates the rural setting but values the proximity to Lincoln, a city that offers urban amenities. On clear days, she can see as far as Derbyshire. The family previously lived in Bishop’s Stortford but moved to Lincolnshire due to high house prices in the south, and Michael’s roots in the area.
Purchase and Costs
The property was listed at £850,000 but was negotiated down to £825,000. The deposit was around 18%, funded by the sale of their previous new-build home for £625,000. Monthly essential costs, including mortgage, utilities, car expenses, and food, amount to approximately £6,000. Their mortgage rate is variable at 0.76% above the Bank of England base rate. The house uses oil heating rather than gas, which Serena notes is not ideal given current energy prices.
Interior Design and Renovations
Serena’s interior style embraces color, pattern, and texture, aiming to complement the property’s original features and heritage. She believes that moving into such a historic home means preserving and enhancing rather than stripping everything out. Key renovations include uncovering fireplaces in three bedrooms that were boarded up and painted over, restoring ornate coving downstairs, and refinishing floorboards in the children’s bedrooms. In the office, they discovered an original lime ash floor under the carpet, which they painted and incorporated into the design.
All windows were original timber sash, single-glazed, with some missing glass panels. The family is replacing them one by one with double-glazed units from a local expert, avoiding UPVC to maintain the period look.
Biggest Transformations
The most significant change indoors was converting one of the smallest bedrooms into a proper family bathroom, including a freestanding bath and shower, and replacing the window. This was a priority because the house lacked a pressurized water system upstairs, forcing the family to shower downstairs initially.
Outdoors, the biggest project involved the former tennis court, which had been left to overgrow. The family removed the tarmac, seeded the area, built pergolas, and laid a patio, completing the work themselves to save costs. Serena emphasizes that YouTube tutorials have been invaluable for learning DIY skills.
Challenges and Family Life
Renovations have been challenging, especially with two children aged 10 and 12. Serena admits she has to pace herself, as the first year was spent on essential but invisible upgrades like the boiler and loft insulation. Living through dust and disruption while working and managing school runs has been stressful. However, the children have been involved in decisions and enjoy activities like growing vegetables and caring for chickens.
The next major project is the main bedroom, which has been used as a spare room for a year while the family’s wardrobes are stored in a room that will eventually become a library.
Social Media and Long-Term Plans
Serena shares their renovation journey on Instagram, documenting both the finished rooms and the messy reality of living through construction. She believes it’s important to show the tough bits, including the mess, noise, and upheaval. The family plans to stay long-term, wanting this to be the children’s childhood home—a place they will want to return to as adults.
With its mix of heritage and modern updates, the farmhouse is slowly becoming the dream home Serena envisioned, proving that patience and resilience are key in any renovation project.
