Inside a £325k Cheshire Home: A Maximalist Dream of Leopard Print and Parrots
Avalana Simpson, a 38-year-old artist and designer originally from Scotland, has turned her £325,000 Cheshire three-bedroom home into a breathtaking explosion of color and pattern. After 14 years of renting, she and her husband Derek purchased the property in August 2024, using it as a creative soundboard for her interior design passions.
From Renting to Homeownership: A 14-Year Journey
The couple saved £51,000 for their deposit over more than a decade, navigating the challenges of being self-employed business owners. Their mortgage, fixed at 6.44% for 60 months, costs £1,661 per month, with bills adding approximately £600. Avalana emphasizes the difficulty of meeting the 15% deposit requirement but credits an excellent mortgage broker for guiding them through the process.
A Serendipitous Find in Anderton, Cheshire
Located in the small village of Anderton near Northwich, just south of Manchester, the home was discovered by chance during a dog walk. Surrounded by country parks, canals, and river walks, the area had long been a favorite for weekend breaks. Avalana and Derek viewed only this property before making an offer, drawn to its blank canvas potential and idyllic location.
Maximalist Interiors: Personal Wallpaper Designs Take Center Stage
As a wallpaper designer, Avalana has adorned almost every wall with her own creations, earning a nomination for Best Use of Color at the 2025 Ufurnish Awards. Her style is opulent and layered, featuring bold patterns, textures, and metallic finishes inspired by travel, escapism, boutique hotels, and atmospheric restaurants.
Key design elements include:
- A dramatic leopard print hallway, featuring caramel-colored wallpaper derived from an original jaguar painting, designed to feel rich, warm, and cocooning.
- Vibrant parrot motifs and other wildlife patterns that reflect her artistic vision.
- A transformed home office, originally a plastic-roofed lean-to conservatory, now upgraded with insulation and a tiled roof for year-round use.
Avalana began designing wallpapers in 2019, driven by a lack of large-scale, artistic options on the market. Each design starts as an original painting, evolving into immersive interiors that bring her artwork to life. Her husband Derek, though more reserved in taste, supports her maximalist approach, trusting her creative process even when bold paint colors are introduced.
Future Plans and Homebuying Advice
With no plans to move soon or have children, Avalana is focused on refining existing rooms and tackling upstairs spaces like the bathroom and master bedroom. She advises aspiring homeowners to save consistently, even if it takes longer than expected, and to secure a mortgage before transitioning to self-employment.
This Cheshire home stands as a testament to personal expression, blending artistic innovation with the joys of homeownership in a vibrant, ever-evolving space.
