I spent £3,000 creating my 1940s-inspired dream home. Trolls say it's disgusting and looks like a 90-year-old lives here, but it's my happy place
A woman who spent £3,000 creating her 1940s-inspired dream home has hit back at trolls who say her interior is 'disgusting'.
Josephina Finch, 36, from Canterbury, Kent, was inspired by her grandmother's home when she started redecorating her property two years ago.
The mother-of-three found her old furniture, floral wallpaper and vintage trinkets by searching charity shops, car boot sales, Facebook marketplace and eBay.
She explained: 'My grandmother started it – it's quite old-fashioned. It's nostalgia for me.
'My happy place. I started watching the Royle family on TV and I was obsessed with that style.'
Pictured: Josephina Finch, mother of three in her 1940s-inspired living room in her Canterbury home
'It's homely and old-fashioned. I created magic in every room.”
Although Josephina's partner Chrissy Harrison, who works as a carpenter and builder, is happy with her interior design style, the mother's decor choice doesn't go down too well with her 17-year-old twin daughters or 11-year-old son.
She added: “The twins hate it. They say it's “old lady stuff”.
“But they don't want me to change it, it's my home.”
The family moved into their two-bedroom home in February 2022 and Josephina has spent that time turning it into a vintage paradise.
The mother bought her 1955 three-piece sofa for £500 and a £30 wardrobe for her son's room on Facebook Marketplace.
Josephina and Chrissy then made their own kitchen using sanded scaffolding planks, then carved hearts into it to give it a vintage feel.
In addition, Josephina also has a floral staircase and vintage curtains, which were taken from her grandmother Patricia Minshull's house.
The mum has continued her 1940s-inspired interior design in the bedroom of her Canterbury home
Josephina and her partner Chrissy made their own kitchen with sanded scaffolding planks – before carving hearts into it to give it a vintage feel
Pictured: The corner in Josephina's makeup artist studio in her garden, which customers say looks like 'Narnia'
Pictured: Josephina's house in Canterbury looks like any other modern new-build project from the outside
In addition, Josephina has decorated her living space with vintage trinkets – including photos of Victorian families that she bought for 50 cents, old cigarette tins and foot powder from the war.
She continued, “I've never liked anything from Ikea or Next.
'I never buy anything new. Everything has a story.'
Since sharing photos of her home online, Josephina says she has faced cruel comments from trolls.
The mother explained, “I get a lot of hate.
Josephina also has a floral staircase and vintage curtains, which were brought from her grandmother Patricia Minshull's home
Although Josephina's partner Chrissy Harrison, who works as a carpenter and builder, is happy with her interior design style, the mother's decor choice doesn't go down too well with her 17-year-old twin daughters or 11-year-old son.
In the photo: Josephina has strung Christmas lights along the ceiling of her kitchen to make it even more cozy
Josephina Finch (pictured), 36, has loved that era of decor since watching the TV show Royle Family as a child and has been inspired by the home of her grandmother, Patricia Minshull, 87
The mum bought her 1955 three-piece sofa for £500 (pictured) and a £30 wardrobe for her son's room on Facebook Marketplace
Pictured: Josephina Finch, 36, has hung vintage posters behind the TV in the living room of her Canterbury home
Josephina works as a make-up artist from a house in her garden and says that her customers always get nice reactions when they see the inside of her house
Pictured: The mother of three's makeup chair is surrounded by more vintage trinkets and furniture
Josephina finds everything second hand – searches charity shops, car boot sales and Facebook Marketplace and eBay for floral wallpaper, trinkets and old furniture
The mother-of-three estimates she has only spent £2-3,000 on the house and says it is her 'happy place' despite strangers telling her it is 'disgusting'
Josephina Finch, 36, stores her makeup in these vintage metal boxes in her garden studio
'They say it's disgusting. People say, “Why did you decorate your house like a 90-year-old?”
'I don't care, I love it. I wouldn't want it to look like an IKEA catalogue.'
In addition, Josephina has also transformed the shed in the garden into a studio for make-up artists.
The mother of three says her customers always compliment her interior design style.
She added: “They say it looks like Narnia!”