About you

Name: Alison Osborn
Age: 42
Occupation: Front-of-house in a hotel restaurant

About your home

Location: Co Wexford
What type of house is it? A 3 storey Georgian townhouse
How many bedrooms and bathrooms? 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
When did you move in? 2012
Who lives there? Myself, Me, my husband David, our two daughters Emily and Mia – and our dogs, cats and hens.

What made you choose this home over others?

We wanted an old house with character but most period properties we had seen were out of our price range. We couldn’t believe our luck when the estate agent brought us here. It was very run down and neglected, but it had so much potential and we just knew it was the one! People talk about getting “that feeling” when you find the home you want to buy, and that’s exactly what happened when I saw this house.

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As if I hadn’t enough to do on my day off I decided to swap the rug in here with the rug in the other room! I like it, think it adds a nice richness to the room. It’s a glorious evening here so I’m going to take my boys for a walk as I hadn’t the time yet (because of said rug moving!) there’s a garlic basted chicken roasting in the oven which will be delicious to tuck into when we get home and then basically rest and relaxation for the duration. I’m having a nice day and I hope you are too 💖 #home #cozy #cosy #myhome #periodhome #countrycottages #countryinteriors #snug #charminghomes #charming #sweethome #myhomestyle #myhome #countryinteriors #irishhomes #irishinteriors #gallerywall #gallerywalldecor

A post shared by Alison. Decor and Lifestyle (@lifeatnumberten) on Sep 3, 2020 at 8:08am PDT

What’s your favourite part of your home and why?

I love our kitchen because it gets so much natural light, Summer or winter, it’s the cosiest spot in the whole house, and it’s the heart of our home. It’s such a happy space for us.

What’s one part of your home that causes challenges?

It would be great to have more countertop space in the kitchen. Looking back, I would have designed the kitchen a bit differently and just had a window instead of the double doors, to create more work space.

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I’ve been a busy bee this afternoon! Can anyone spot what I’ve been doing? Dinner is on, stuffed pork fillet with a garlic mash potato and the fire is lighting. A chilly day today, never really brightened up so I was glad to spend the day inside. Hope your week is getting of to a good start and that you are well 💖 #kitchen #countrykitchen #countryhome #countryhomes #cottage #cottagedecor #setthetable #countryhouse #countryhouses #home #homesweethome #cottagekitchen #homemaker #makingahouseahome #homesweethome #dinner #supper #eattogether #charming #charminginteriors #countryinteriors #mycountryhome

A post shared by Alison. Decor and Lifestyle (@lifeatnumberten) on Mar 30, 2020 at 9:56am PDT

What’s the most unique part of your home?

From the front, our house looks like a two-storey building, but when you come in, you see the winding staircase bringing you to all three floors – the kitchen is downstairs. This staircase is one of the original features of the house. I often think about all the hands that held onto those banisters over the years.

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Always watching and listening! The welcoming committee, If you’re a friend calling for a coffee, the milkman, the postman, the delivery guy, someone collecting for a local charity, next doors cat taking a chance coming into our garden, whoever or whatever you are these guys have you spotted! They will bark, they will growl, Georgie will most likely frighten the life out of you by his sheer size and Scamp will have you covered in hairs as soon as you look at him! Chances are if you don’t get the seal of approval from the welcoming committee you probably won’t be allowed in! But if you do get the seal of approval you will have 2 friends forever 💖 #dogsofinstagram #mydogs #faithfulfriends #hallway #doorsofinstagram #georgianhouse #fanlight #entrance #periodhome #periodliving #oldhouse #charminginteriors #irishinteriors #irishhomes #irishcountrylife #countrylifestyle #cottagecore #myhomevibes #countryhome #cozyhome #cozyhomes #cottagevibes #myhomestyle #home #welcome #lovemelovemydogs #homesweethome #deerhound #lurcher #adoptdontshop

A post shared by Alison. Decor and Lifestyle (@lifeatnumberten) on May 6, 2020 at 8:49am PDT

How does an average day start in your home right now?

We rise very early in this house. When I’m on the early shift in work my alarm goes off at 4.45am. I get up and go straight down to the kitchen, and as it’s in the basement, I don’t have to worry about waking anyone. If it’s a nice morning, I’ll open the windows in the sitting room and library first thing, I love to feel the air coming through the house even at that hour of the morning! I feed the cats, dogs and hens and I always always set the table for my husband for when he comes down – I’ll be long gone by the time he’s downstairs. I’m a great believer in little touches that show we care! At about 5.15am I sit down for my coffee and I’m gone from the house at 5.45am!

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Ah Friday evening it’s so good to see you 💖 A beautiful sunny evening after a miserable damp start. I’m looking forward to a simple evening in, there’s a rib roast cooking alongside some crispy roast potatoes and a bottle of Sauvignon chills away in the fridge and of course my favourite Gardeners World later! All this peace and calm at home but I’m slightly nervous about the news breaking this evening of new lockdowns in parts of Ireland, I can’t help but wonder when will life ever return to normal 💖 #countryhome #countryhouse #mycountryhome #cozyinteriors #cozyhome #cozyhomedecor #cozyhomes #cottagestyle #cottagestylehome #irishhomes #irishinteriors #homestyledecor #myhomestyle #countryinteriors

A post shared by Alison. Decor and Lifestyle (@lifeatnumberten) on Aug 7, 2020 at 10:07am PDT

How does an average day end in your home right now?

As I am awake so early, I start to wind down fairly early compared to others. Once dinner is over I always tidy the kitchen, put on a wash or hang up some laundry if needed. I’ll usually have a shower, put on my PJs, make a cup of tea and relax in the sitting room where I’ll read a magazine or watch some tv. I’m usually upstairs to bed around 9.30pm.

What’s one thing you’d do differently if you were decorating your home again?

I would definitely keep the fireplaces in our bedroom and bathroom rather than removing them. I really wanted to, but I wasn’t confident enough in my own decisions and was put off by our builder who couldn’t understand why I’d want to lose wall space for a fireplace!

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