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At home with: Jade Waller
Jade Waller is a home styling expert best known for her unique ability to create stunning, cosy and practical spaces on a budget. She has 185,000 followers on Instagram and is a true mumpreneur. She talks to Lynda Clark about buying her first home, how she started her business and has some great advice for first time buyers FTB: Tell us about your first step on to the property ladder? JW: Both my husband and I come from very humble beginnings, so we both wanted to buy our first home but we knew our families were not in a position to be able to help us financially. Both of our mums never owned their own home but I was determined to buy, as I think it is a very important step and I wanted the stability for our children (we have a son together and I have two stepchildren) and it is also a very good investment. We were very lucky that my mum has a small annex attached to her home that is self-contained. We lived there for five years while we saved, which was amazing but it was challenging too. We were both brought up on
council estates in different London boroughs, which were very diverse but sometimes not easy. I wouldn’t have changed my childhood, though, as it gave me real grit and set me up for the future. But I always wanted to live further outside of London as I love the country and going on nature walks and the peacefulness of it all. I also wanted a garden for the children to play in and I adore hosting parties and family gatherings. I am the “go-to” person when it comes to Easter, Christmas and having summer barbecues! So the house we have bought is not our dream home but a stepping stone and it ticked lots of the boxes. It is a 70s bungalow, which doesn’t look much from the outside but once you go in it’s completely different. It’s a bit like a Tardis! We didn’t have the money for a big renovation but with a budget of about £2,000 I knew I could create the perfect space for us. We are all very settled and happy living there. FTB: How did your career in social media start? JW: My mum has always loved interiors and when I was young she used to buy all
“DON’T GET PRESSURISED BECAUSE YOUR FIRST HOME WON’T TICK EVERY BOX”
12 First Time Buyer December 2024/January 2025
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