Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.
When 43-year-old Leekim Stewart and her husband started looking for their next property project, they knew that they wanted a converted barn.
They had two things at the top of their wish list: high ceilings, and nothing too cookie-cutter. So, when they landed on their £1,160,000 six-bedroom home in Maldon, Essex, they knew they were onto a winner.
Channelling Leekim’s natural maximalist style and her husband’s more pared-back, minimalist preferences, they’ve certainly added character to their dream home since moving into it in 2023.
Here’s what Leekim had to say about their property journey…
Tell us about yourself!
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I’m Leekim Stewart, and I live in a converted barn in the Essex countryside with my husband and our two young children, who are two and four.
I juggle my days between three things: running my own finance brokerage, creating content for my Instagram account, where I showcase all things DIY and home decor related and finally, running the house and family.
Whereabouts is your property? What do you think of the area?
The property is in Maldon in Essex. It’s in the heart of the countryside and right amongst the bugs and wildlife. It’s definitely slow living here, which is not completely what I’m used to, but it’s a great place to bring up children.
There are a few hidden gems in Maldon, you just have to find them. I love Mrs Salsbury on the high street; it’s a little cafe that does lovely breakfasts or afternoon teas. There’s also a restaurant called Black Pig, and they do the best lobster I’ve ever tasted.
When did you move in?
We moved in March 2023, when I was six months pregnant!
How much does your property cost?
£1,160,000.
How did you to save up for your deposit?
We sold our business, another finance brokerage, which gave us enough to buy our previous Chelmsford home outright, which we did for £540,000. When we came to sell it, we sold it for £600,000. We got a mortgage on top to cover the rest.
What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?
Our mortgage is roughly £2,700 per month, at 2.32% over 27 years. Bills cost £1,200.
What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?
It was quite smooth apart from one element; that was that the drive wasn’t registered on the land registry as the previous owner’s, it was showing as owned by the council!
It technically did belong to the owner, but the paperwork was never sorted for this.
UFurnish.com Home Awards
Leekim’s DIY efforts not only completely transformed her bedroom, but they got her nominated for a Best Showstopping Home Feature in the UFurnish.com Home Awards.
Celebrating talent across 20 categories, including interiors, gardens, furniture innovation and home accessories, the awards highlight the best in the home renovations game.
How did you find this property? What made you choose it?
We found it on Rightmove. We were on the hunt for a converted barn, specifically one that had vaulted ceilings and tonnes of character.
What’s your favourite piece of furniture in the house?
I would say my Bobo boucle chair. It’s my favourite piece as it’s so pretty to look at.
What are your biggest property non-negotiables when looking?
We needed to have enough bedrooms and space to not only house my husband and my kids, but also three extra rooms to transform into an office as we both work from home.
We wanted a walk-in wardrobe/laundry dumping ground, and the final non-negotiable was a playroom, as my husband can’t stand toys in the living room.
How have you made the property feel like home? What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style?
We’ve tried to work around the history of the barn by adding modern touches. We go to Soho Farmhouse quite often, so that also inspires our design choices.
We used to live in Shoreditch, and we spent a lot of time in Brick Lane, in trendy cafes, bars and hangout spots. The decor tended to have a sense of a worn and battered feel, but often this would be turned on its head with fabrics, wallpaper and art.
It’s this type of charm we have tried to recreate here, and where we feel the most at home.
What’s your favourite room and why?
My favourite room is the bedroom, and this is because I refurbished the entire thing myself! I also built the window seat, and it was actually shortlisted as a finalist for the Ufurnish Awards, in their Best Transformation Before & After category.
I made it using Ikea Besta units; I hacked it from a TV unit to a window seat. Our bedroom needed a complete makeover, and something was seriously lacking: character and storage. I colour-drenched it in a deep warm pink and added statement hardware to really customise it.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
Not at first, but we built some storage under the stairs, a window seat in the bedroom and a bookshelf unit in the living room.
Do you have plans to change the property?
We wanted to extend the kitchen out so we could have an open-plan living situation. It’s hard to watch the kids as well as cook, so to have an open-plan kitchen/living room would be ideal.
Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?
Yes, the entire house needed to be rewired as the way it was configured was an extreme fire hazard – we also have a thatched roof!
What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing?
We have plans to move abroad one day. We’ve seen the type of housing you can get elsewhere, and it’s mind-blowingly affordable!
Shall we take a look around?
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This article was first published on August 16, 2025.
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