Esther Loynton and Robyn Anderson are from opposite ends of the world but were on the same page when it came to renovating their redbricked home, honouring its two periods and giving it a grown-up yet fun vibe
Robyn and Esther in the older part of the house with its original fireplace. Paint colours are sombre, however, the pair lighten the mood with their artworks. Esther describes it as a masculine/feminine vibe. Photo: Tony Gavin
How you decide to view the unexpected is an important lesson of life and indeed of home renovation. If you can succeed in changing your mindset, something that seems like a huge mistake can turn out to be a treasured feature as Esther Loynton discovered when the much-anticipated concrete floor was poured in the terraced home she shares with her wife Robyn Anderson and toddler son Finn.
Esther is a self-confessed perfectionist so was appalled when she saw the finished result – to her horror, a tiny screw had become embedded in the concrete, in fairness it’s so imperceptible, few others would have noticed. “I came in really excited. Then I saw the screw. My first thought was, ‘It’s ruined,’” says Esther in such a way that it’s obvious the word ‘ruined’ was screamed in her head in capitals.