With house prices shooting up, you now have to pay a fair bit more for house or apartment in Greater Manchester than you would a few years back. Back in 2015, Becky managed to snap up a one-bed flat in Salford for just £74,000 and since then she has transformed it into an impressive retro 70s-style space.
Becky, 30, spoke to the Manchester Evening News as part of our Where I Live series. Each week we chat to a different homeowner across the north west about their buying and renovation journey; and take a look around to see how they've made their home their own.
Mum-of-one Becky, who works as a hairdresser, moved from her hometown of Bolton to Salford due to work, and managed to get herself on the property ladder at just 22-years-old.
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"I worked in Manchester and I didn't want to keep commuting every day. I rented an apartment at first and then I got on the property ladder when I was about 22," Becky told the Manchester Evening News.
"A flat worked well for me with my age at the time and being able to walk into the city centre, so it was the right first property to buy.
"At the time the flat hunting process was really easy because the market was completely different back then with house prices and mortgage rates.
"I picked this apartment up at a really good price, I paid £74,000 which is crazy compared to now."
Becky, who lives with her partner and daughter, says the apartment was a 'mess' when she first moved in and she couldn't wait to put her own stamp on it.
"The apartment was a mess when we first bought it. We ripped everything out, put all new flooring in and redecorated throughout," she said.
"I did a lot of the renovating myself as well as roping my boyfriend and dad in to help out."
Becky, who has a passion for retro decor, transformed the entire space with psychedelic patterned wallpaper, mahogany furniture and quirky vintage pieces.
"I've always loved retro decor. I've been influenced by my parents as they are into it," she said.
"For me as I'm a colourist, I am always really drawn to colour. Surrounding myself with colour in my home just makes it feel warm and more homely.
"Over the years I've added more retro style decor to my home as my confidence has grown over the years. I've learnt to not hold back with the colours and patterns and just go for it.
"It's always been that same kind of theme or but I've added different furniture and changed the wallpaper over the years."
Becky says she managed to renovate her flat whilst sticking to a tight budget.
"Everything has been bought from vintage markets, second hand shops and places like IKEA. I tend to be able to make a space feel really different but without spending a lot," she said.
"One of my favourite brands is called G Plan. They do a lot of mid-century furniture."
After moving in and renovating, Becky started her own home Instagram account @myretrodecor which now has more than 15,200 followers.
"I started my Instagram account around seven years ago. I've done bits of photography and social media with my job because we do a lot of shoots with hair and so I've always been quite visual and creative," she said.
"My account has grown naturally over time. I think home accounts are something that a lot of people are into now and with working with brands you just build up followers."
Giving us a tour around her flat, Becky described: "You walk through the front door into a small hallway where we've got a patterned wallpaper as you walk in. We've got a small bathroom on the right which we've kept quite neutral but have accessorised with the same sort of colour theme. My partner does art so we've got some of his artwork on the walls in there.
"Then you go into the bedroom and we've got a yellow and pink rainbow print wallpaper in there. and we've accessorised with vintage furniture.
"Then you've got the front room which is the open plan kitchen and living area. Again we've got another 70s print wallpaper and this is where most of the G Plan furniture is, which is all antique curved wood. We've filled that room with accessories I've got from second hand shops and my partner's art prints. Then there's a little balcony.
Becky added: "I think my favourite room is the lounge just because of where the light comes in the morning. The colours in there are all mustard yellows and oranges so it kind of glows and it just feels really warm and homely."
Becky hopes to move out of her flat in the next year as she wants to upsize.
"We've got a baby now so we're absolutely ready to upsize, but the current climate with mortgage rates and house prices has prevented us from moving when we would have liked to," she admitted.
"As soon as it sorts itself out we will be looking to move. I'd imagine us moving to a two or three bedroom house rather than an apartment just so that our daughter has a bit more room."
Want to feature your home in Where I Live? If so, please email your details to phoebe.jobling@reachplc.com.
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