Our Nest: Why Helen and Alan chose a Bellway Watchmaker home for their downsizing dream

When our lives change, our homes often need to change with us, whether that’s moving to a bigger home to accommodate a growing family or even downsizing to a smaller or more manageable home when adult children move out.

In the latest edition of Our Nest, we meet Helen of @our_cosy_yorkshire_home and her husband Alan; previously living in a 100-year-old house that they painstakingly renovated and extended, the couple no longer needed so much space nor wanted to keep maintaining an older property, and set their hearts on a new-build Bellway Watchmaker home in Yorkshire for their next move.

Helen called their previous home a “real labour of love” but as life moved on and her children were growing up, she and Alan felt it was the right time to downsize and take on a new challenge.

“That’s what brought us to Bellway,” Helen reminisces. “After years of renovating and maintaining an older property, the idea of moving into a brand-new home was really appealing; having something fresh, low-maintenance, and ready to enjoy.

“We loved the thought of starting with a blank canvas where we could focus on decorating and styling rather than doing major structural work again.”

Having older children, including a daughter at university, Helen and Alan wanted a “comfortable and stylish” home that would meet their needs now but also be able to accommodate their evolving lifestyles, such as grown-up children coming back to stay in the future. With five double bedrooms, including two with en suites, an open-plan kitchen, dining and family area with utility room, and even a dedicated study, Bellway’s Watchmaker house style ticked all their boxes and more.

“Bellway stood out to us for its reputation and quality, and when we discovered the 5-bedroom Watchmaker house style it immediately felt like the right fit. The layout was exactly what we were looking for as it’s spacious and practical, with a great flow for family life; it gives us room to spend time together as a family but also offers everyone their own space when they need it.

“We’re enjoying every moment of settling into our new Bellway home and making it feel like ‘us’. It’s a new chapter, and we’re excited for all that’s to come.”

Creating the perfect cosy Yorkshire home

Helen documented the process of renovating their previous home on social media, and has continued sharing the story of their new Bellway home (and plenty of pictures of their beloved Westie, Buzz) on her Instagram account @our_cosy_yorkshire_home, which has attracted over 17,000 followers.

“I set up my home Instagram account mainly to get decorating ideas and be inspired by others. I never expected much from it, but people started following along, asking about our style and where things were from, and it just grew from there!

“Now it’s become such a lovely creative outlet for me. I use it to share decorating updates, DIY , styling moments and bits of day-to-day life at home. I keep my content fresh by posting only what I genuinely love and not overthinking it; whether it’s a full room reveal, fresh flowers, or just a cosy corner, if it makes me smile, it’ll probably do the same for someone else!”

With no expensive, inconvenient or time-consuming renovations to worry about, Helen could make a start on decorating their new-build Bellway home straight away.

“When we moved in, our Bellway home was a true blank canvas. We wanted to create a calm, welcoming space with a contemporary classic feel, and a distinctively different interior style to the neutral modern farmhouse aesthetic we had in our previous home.

“We had already personalised our new Bellway home with our choice of kitchen, flooring and carpets, and wanted to add warmth with layers of colours and textures, and a touch of biophilia design with plants and green accents throughout. Green feels grounding, while the lighter tones keep everything fresh and light.”

A feature that Helen and Alan wanted in their new Bellway home in Yorkshire was an open space that would bring all of their family together, and be flexible to use for a variety of occasions.

“My favourite room in our Watchmaker home is the kitchen, dining and family area, which is where we spend most of our time. It’s a space that just works for everything, from mornings with coffee to busy family dinner times and entertaining friends, it really feels like the heart of our home.

“I love how open and bright it is. We added the mirrored feature wall in the family area and that adds so much more space, warmth and personality. The glass pendant lights over the dining table and in the family area were one of the first things we chose, and they still make me smile every time I walk in.”

Lighting was something that Helen wanted to focus on for her Bellway home interior, and she has used statement pendants and warm bulbs to create a cosy atmosphere. To add those final details, Helen has styled her home with photos, artwork, trays with candles, books and flowers; “little vignettes that make it feel lived-in”.

“I think the part of our home I’m most proud of is how we’ve made it feel calm, cohesive, and really ‘us.’ From the green tones that run through different rooms to the mix of textures and personal touches, it all ties together in a way that feels warm and welcoming.

“We started with a blank canvas, so seeing it come to life slowly with each detail chosen with care has been so rewarding. It’s not just about how it looks, but how it feels to live in every day.”

Advice for decorating your dream new-build home

It might be surprising to discover that some people encounter a phenomenon called ‘white box syndrome’ after moving into a new-build property – a feeling of being overwhelmed by the blank canvas of its untouched interior and not knowing where to begin with making it feel like home.

We asked Helen to share her best advice for decorating a new-build home, to help you plan your interior, and design a home that you’ll love for many years to come.

“My first piece of advice would be to take your time. It’s so tempting to want everything finished straight away, but living in the space for a while really helps you understand what works and what doesn’t. Decorating our new home has been a slow and steady journey, but that’s what’s made it feel like ours, a home that evolves with us.

“Start with a neutral base, then build up layers of colour, texture, and personality gradually. Don’t be afraid to wait for the right ideas or see the right furniture that works best for you. It’s better to slowly create a home you truly love than rush and regret choices later – and most of all, enjoy the process!”

Whether you’re a first-time buyer starting out on your new home journey, you’re looking for the perfect next step up the property ladder, or it’s time to downsize like Helen and Alan, visit the Bellway website to explore your nearest developments of energy-efficient new-build homes, and discover more of the many fantastic reasons to buy new.

Visit the Our Nest page to read more inspiring Bellway homeowner stories, including how Maria and Asad found room to grow in their Bellway Dingley home, and why Vicky embraced dopamine décor to create her pretty pink Bellway Plane. If you’d like the chance to be featured in a future edition of Our Nest, share your unique interior style with us @bellwayhomes using our dedicated hashtag #mybeautifulbellway.