Working with their architect, the couple decided to stick to the original footprint of the bungalow so that the new building wouldn't encroach on their garden. 'Although we were gaining a second storey, our main rooms, such as the kitchen and living area weren't going to be that much bigger,' says Angel. 'Therefore, clever built-in storage quickly became an integral feature of our new home.'
With a very limited budget, Robert and Angel did a lot of the work themselves, everything from designing the layout of the interior to sourcing materials. The internet proved to be a valuable tool in the search for inexpensive, sustainable products. Robert found a supplier of soapstone worksurfaces in San Diego and he hired a van to drive there and pick them up himself, while the flooring came from Vancouver and the solid brass bathroom fixtures from England.
The family kitchen is a great example of Angel and Robert's eclectic decor. Custom-built cupboards make the most of the available space, while a dining table and mismatched chairs are the centre of family life. The lighting feature was created from an assortment of Christmas decorations. 'I loved the overall effect, so much so that I just haven't taken it down,' says Angel. 'We keep adding to it every year.'
'With a project such as this it's easy to get carried away with the budget and spend more than you'd ever get back when selling the property,' he explains. The careful research was worth all the effort, however, when they finally totted up all the bills and realised the build had come in exactly on budget - no mean feat for any developer, no matter how experienced they are.
The same verve for hunting down a bargain is true for the furniture and accessories where expensive items, such as the pink Eames Rocker, sit alongside Ikea buys and flea market finds. 'I absolutely love flea markets,' enthuses Angel. 'But I have to have a specific thing in mind as they're so huge that I'd spend hours wandering around otherwise.' Angel's other favourites include Urban Outfitters, 'Great for a quick accessories fix,' and Jonathan Adler, 'I'm so obsessed with his stuff at the moment.'
Georgia and Hazel have a large bedroom for all their toys. If you're after some colourful storage for your child's bedroom, have a look at The Great Little Trading Company. Their versatile stackable storage trunks (£49.99 each) are a good way to keep everything in order.
When it came to decorating, there was no doubt in Angel's mind that her home would be as colourful as possible. 'As a kid, I could never understand how people could live by what they called 'decorating rules'. It's completely alien to me,' she says. 'I suppose you could say I'm slightly rebellious when it comes to my own home, but as I've always loved colour it seemed only natural to have lots of it here.'
The best example of this passion for colour is the candy-striped hallway. Painted with leftover pots of paint used throughout the rest of the house, it offers a invigorating welcome to anyone entering the family's home. 'We think of it as being like an overture to an opera,' explains Robert. 'People see this explosion of colour and then discover each shade again in different rooms of the house.'
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