Welcome to Living in Wisteria: A Peek Behind Our Door
Hi there! I'm Hayley, and I'm thrilled you've found your way here. Welcome to Living in Wisteria, my little corner of the internet where I'll share our home, my family, baking adventures, renovation journey, gardening discoveries, and everything in between.
So, first things first, why are we called Living in Wisteria? Well, when we moved into our charming 120-year-old home on the border of Dorset and Hampshire during lockdown, I delved into its history and discovered something delightful. Once upon a time, this home was known as Wisteria Cottage, thanks to the beautiful wisteria that adorned it. ( Sadly no longer here as the previous owners didn’t like it) Wisteria has always been one of my favourite plants, and I knew instantly we'd have to bring this back to life in the near future. And so, the idea of Living in Wisteria was born.
I share this beautiful space with my husband Dan, our two incredible teenagers, D’Arcy and Harrison and our mischievous but utterly lovable beagle, Dexter, who's essentially my third child. D'Arcy is off to university this year (and honestly, I don’t know how I’ll cope without her daily presence), while Harrison keeps us endlessly entertained and busy with sports and his fun-loving nature.
We're lucky enough to call the beautiful St Leonards home, nestled right between Dorset and Hampshire, with the breathtaking New Forest on one side and the calming sea close by. Having grown up in Cornwall, being near the sea is essential to me, it’s always been my calm, my sanctuary. Here, we have the best of both worlds: lush forests and endless ocean, making it our perfect family haven.
My journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Life began with adventure, as I initially trained as a medic in the Army before embarking on travels across the world. It was during my travels, in South Africa, that I met Dan. Fate stepped in, and Dan made a last-minute decision to join me in Bali instead of remaining in Thailand for Christmas, a decision that, remarkably, meant he missed the devastating 2004 tsunami by just 12 hours. We’ve been inseparable ever since, and soon after I found myself moving to Dorset to start our lives together.
I continued my medical career until life surprised us again, and we found ourselves pregnant with D’Arcy, quickly followed by Harrison. Life was busy and joyful until, just before I was due to return from maternity leave, I experienced a serious car accident. The next four years were spent recovering, during which I sadly lost the medical career I had worked so hard for.
But, as I've learnt repeatedly, life's setbacks often open doors you never imagined. Determined to stay positive and active, I began baking to fill my days and discovered a passion I never knew existed. What began as therapeutic baking grew from selling cakes at farmers’ markets into my thriving business, specialising in stunning, bespoke wedding cakes throughout the South of England. Fifteen years later, my cake business is flourishing, and I’ve even opened my own cake school, passing on skills and inspiration to others.
In the midst of all this, we decided to embark on our biggest adventure yet: renovating and extending our home. After years of saving, we finally started our extension, planning for a relatively simple 180-day build. However, anyone who has renovated knows the phrase "simple build" is hilariously optimistic. As I write this, we're on day 297 and around £35k over budget and counting! Despite the exhaustion, financial shocks, and occasional frustration, we’re genuinely thrilled we took this leap.
Along the way, my background as a trained interior designer came in handy. Our original architect didn't quite capture our vision, so I scrapped his plans and designed the extension myself. Every inch, corner, and detail has been a labour of love and while most decisions have worked brilliantly, a few have taught me valuable lessons!
Through this blog, I want to share all of it the highs, lows, baking delights, gardening projects, interior design triumphs (and mishaps), renovation advice, and of course, plenty of stories about Dexter’s antics. If you’re renovating or planning home improvements yourself, hopefully my experiences will help you avoid some of our mistakes or inspire you to create your dream space. I’ll also share my passion for baking, recipes from my kitchen, gardening tips, and the realities of juggling a busy family and career.
I’d absolutely love for you to follow along with our journey. If you’re passionate about homes, interiors, baking, gardening, or simply want to join us for the ride, you’re in exactly the right place. And of course, expect updates as I begin restoring our beautiful cottage back to its wisteria-covered roots.
Here’s to new adventures and a blooming future,
Thank you so much for stopping by, I can't wait to share more of our life in Wisteria with you.
Hayley xx
