Woman Buys Historic 1882 Cottage, Brings Back Charm Through 'Whimsical' Renovations (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Charlotte Violet Allen.Photo:Charlotte Violet Allen

Charlotte Violet Allen

Charlotte Violet Allen was no expert at historic home restoration when she and her husband first bought their 1882 cottage in 2018. But, as the 33-year-old influencer tells PEOPLE, a little YouTube education can go a long way.

“To get to the point we are now, we had to essentially teach ourselves how to DIY through watching YouTube and building up to the more ‘serious’ jobs through lots of practice,” she says ofher ‘whimsical’ renovations.

Allen has gone viral onInstagramandTikTokfor the still-in-progress renovation of her Brighton, England home, sharing how she created aloft net in her atticand a “dream fairytale bedroom.”

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But when she first moved in, her aim was simple: to add back the original charm.

“To be completely honest, when myself and my husband first bought the house it had been stripped of most of its character,” she says. “It had a cozy feel but it was very much stuck in the late 80’s to early 90’s.”

Allen adds that only one “character feature” hadn’t been modernized: a working open fireplace.

Charlotte Violet Allen.Charlotte Violet Allen

Their first projects focused on renovating the garden — a rarity in a city cottage — and then painting the exterior of the home yellow so it complemented the neighborhood’s other colorful homes.

Through trial and error (and a lot of sweat), Allen says she focused on combining “my own personal style with more period-appropriate features such as ceiling roses, wood floors and brass hardware.”

“It feels like this is how the house is ‘supposed’ to look — it just feels right,” she adds.

the exterior being painted.Charlotte Violet Allen

Allen is quick to note, however, that the renovation hasn’t been without significant challenges.

the cottage.Charlotte Violet Allen

DIY, she says, is “always worth the hassle but it can be messy and exhausting at times.” To that end, the couple is happy to tackle projects they know they can handle — plastering walls, changing out light fixtures, simple plumbing work — but will call in the experts for “more specialized work.”

And like most home renovation shows on television and streaming networks, Allen says social media might make DIY projects appear simple — but that’s not always realistic.

the kitchen.Charlotte Violet Allen

“If you are a busy working professional, and you want to buy a historic home that has structural damage and needs a ton of work, then be prepared that you aren’t going to have much time for leisure over the next few years,” she says.

Being realistic when it comes to budgeting, both with the cost of the home and the renovations it will require, is also key — as is a real love of the process.

“Make sure your passion for historic homes is unwavering — it’s going to help you get through the long days and nights of renovating,” she adds.

source: people.com