My First House: Racing driver Jamie Chadwick on doing up her new flat

The younger racing driver has climbed onto the property ladder (Image: David Rose/REX)

Jamie Chadwick could solely be 22 years outdated however she’s already received a string of achievements to her title.

Not solely did she change into the primary feminine and youngest racing driver to win the British GT Championship again in 2015, however she’s gone and purchased herself a London flat, too.

Over lockdown she started working on her new one-bedroom London residence, creating an area with the whole lot she wanted, from a mini fitness center to an e-sports simulator…

You bought your first dwelling and also you’re solely 22!

Sure, it’s a one-bed, ground-floor flat in south-west London. I received to the age the place I used to be travelling quite a bit and wished a base.

My household dwell in Bathtub however I wished to get out and be extra central and in London. It’s in a mews and it wasn’t marketed that properly in any respect and wasn’t a lot to write down dwelling about.

It’s small however I knew I might do a variety of work to it with out spending an excessive amount of.

What kind of work?

The construction was excellent and it simply wanted a little bit of tidying up. It didn’t have any character, nothing thrilling about it. Actually fairly bleak.

There have been white partitions and soiled carpets however there was a variety of pure gentle, which was good. I simply wished one thing I might make actually homely. So much went into making it as private as attainable.

How did you make it private?

I used a variety of wooden options. I wished a wooden cabin vibe, one thing that was cosy within the winter. I’ve an electrical fireplace and wood flooring. With out wanting it to change into an excessive amount of about racing, I put my trophies and helmets in it.

A home for me must be a house. The one factor my dad and mom advised me is to not rush as a result of issues will come to you thru life – get a really feel for it first.

Jamie’s house is crammed with racing trophies and helmets (Image: Alamy Inventory Photograph)

What’s the key to attaining a lot at such a younger age?

I believe it’s all relative. On this planet I’m in in the mean time you undoubtedly develop up sooner. After I left college I used to be into an expert surroundings right away and dealing with adults, so it doesn’t appear so related.

It felt like the fitting resolution to buy my first property. As a sports activities particular person, our careers don’t final eternally, so it’s the equal now of me being in my mid-thirties or forties.

Would you suggest shopping for as younger as attainable?

For positive. If you’re ready to speculate. Both I used to be going to hire or make investments into one thing. It’s nice to have an asset for the longer term and I don’t need to pay hire. For many younger individuals I might suggest the identical.

Any DIY disasters?

I didn’t do an excessive amount of myself. I moved in to the property after I received again from New Zealand on the peak of lockdown. It was the worst time to have any points. There have been issues with the recent water and the web and that took ages to get sorted. It wasn’t easy crusing.

Does it really feel good to have someplace safe?

Sure, dwelling alone I wished to really feel protected. With all of the travelling I do, it’s good to have it protected. So I’ve partnered with Arlo and their good safety cameras to provide me actual peace of thoughts whereas I’m away.

Finest second to this point within the property?

I solely moved in March. Throughout lockdown, I turned the place into the whole lot I wanted in a really small house. I had an e-sports simulator, a mini-gym, my bike on a coach – I had the whole lot I wanted.

Finest bit of recommendation for patrons?

Positively get some safety merchandise. It provides you whole peace of thoughts. By way of looking, go together with your intestine. You don’t have that a lot time to um and ah. Even when it doesn’t seem like a lot, go together with your coronary heart and hope it pays off.

What plans do you have got in your dwelling subsequent?

If I might make structural modifications I’d like to make it open-plan and extra spacious.

You journey round quite a bit – do you have got a dream place to dwell?

The UK is the place my coronary heart is. There may be nothing like coming again dwelling. For me there may be nothing higher than the UK, however I might say Tuscany if I might get a vacation dwelling. I really like my biking so that will be excellent.

Find out more about home security with Arlo.

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