{"id":13176,"date":"2025-04-12T07:50:49","date_gmt":"2025-04-12T07:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/13176\/"},"modified":"2025-04-12T07:50:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T07:50:49","slug":"what-i-own-i-decorated-my-148000-bristol-flat-like-a-famous-80s-nightclub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/13176\/","title":{"rendered":"What I Own: I decorated my \u00a3148,000 Bristol flat like a famous 80s nightclub"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Harry
\n\t\tWe\u2019re in colourful Bristol this week visiting Harry Matuszewicz-Milne (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

Welcome back to\u00a0What I Own<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Metro\u2019s property series where we speak to homeowners about\u00a0getting on the ladder.<\/a><\/p>\n

Harry Matuszewicz-Milne moved to Bristol<\/a> with his wife in 2011. A year later, they purchased their \u00a3148,000 two-bedroom flat where they live with their two-year-old Cavapoo, Bonnie.<\/p>\n

It might now be 2025, but inside, it\u2019s 1982 \u2014 the very same year The Ha\u00e7ienda nightclub<\/a> opened its doors in Manchester<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The venue was the epicentre of a music scene that pulsed through the veins of not just Manchester<\/a>, but rave culture across the UK in the 1980s and early 1990s. Legends from Oasis and The Happy Mondays to The Stone Roses and even Madonna<\/a> performed there.<\/p>\n

As soon as he picked up his keys to his Bristol home, Harry, now an interior designer<\/a>, knew that he wanted to commemorate the nightclub, which closed in 1997.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry retrained as an interior designer last year (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

Inside, it\u2019s a maximalist dream, with leopard prints, blaring colour and the same yellow and black striped hazard tape that adorned the walls of The Ha\u00e7ienda.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tReady to start your homebuying journey?\t\t\t<\/p>\n

You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Award winning service from the UK\u2019s leading mortgage broker<\/p>\n

\u2013 Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week<\/p>\n

\u2013 Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market<\/p>\n

Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won\u2019t charge you a fee for their advice.<\/p>\n

Find out how much you could borrow online<\/a><\/p>\n

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, here\u2019s what Harry had to say about his property journey\u2026<\/p>\n

Tell us about yourself!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m Harry, aged 42. I\u2019m originally from Aberdeen but have been in Bristol since 2011. <\/p>\n

I was a registered mental health<\/a> nurse until very recently, and then I requalified as an interior designer after I graduated with a first from the University of the West of England (UWE) last summer.<\/p>\n

Whereabouts is your property? What do you think of the area?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Old Market, right in the centre of Bristol. My wife and love it here. We can walk everywhere we need to get to, so I rarely get taxis.<\/p>\n

Town is right on the doorstep, but Old Market itself has a great range of pubs, shops, a bakery and places to eat.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tBeforehand, he worked as a mental health nurse (Picture: Jon Rowley)
\nWhen did you move in?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

July 2012.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How much did your property cost?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a3148,000.<\/p>\n

How much was your deposit?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a322,200.<\/p>\n

What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a31,151 per month.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tIt\u2019s a maximalist dream in here (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Mandatory
\n\t\tHarry\u2019s broadly inspired by rave culture (Picture: Peter J Walsh\/Pymca\/REX\/Shutterstock)
\nHow did you save up for your deposit?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were able to save up a lot over the years. When I was a nurse, I worked extra shifts, which would often give me an extra weeks\u2019 pay per month. We also got married in 2008, and were kindly gifted money from our guests. <\/p>\n

What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was relatively straightforward. We used the services of a financial advisor, who talked us through things. In many ways, it was daunting as nobody teaches you stuff like this at school.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Can you share details on your mortgage (rate\/term)?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was a 33-year term.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tBefore they moved in, Harry and his wife were renting in Clifton (Picture: Jon Rowley)
\nWhere did you live before this \u2013 were you renting or living with family?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019d been renting a property in Clifton. We were fortunate to have a good landlord, but it was a bit dingy as it was a basement flat. Before that, we\u2019d been renting in Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

What made you want to buy rather than rent?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I wanted to be able to decorate properly! I was really excited about this aspect. And as our flat was relatively cheap, the mortgage ended up costing less than our rent did, and for a much bigger space.<\/p>\n

How did you find this property? What made you choose it?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think it was through Zoopla. It had been on the market for a while, and the estate agent told us people thought it was too big, which seems insane! I\u2019d rather have this than a pokey wee place.<\/p>\n

We chose it for the central location, it being a beautiful historical building, the massive rooms, high ceilings and big windows. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry says the flat was a \u2018blank canvas\u2019 for them to decorate (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

It was also a blank canvas for us as all the walls were plain white to put our own mark on. We knew as soon as we viewed it that we wanted to live here.<\/p>\n

How have you made the property feel like home? What\u2019s the inspiration for your interior decor style?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

My love of DJ-ing, acid house, dance music and dance culture eventually led me to reading up about the history and origins of the movement, which is where I first learnt about The Hacienda. <\/p>\n

I instantly fell in love with Ben Kelly\u2019s iconic design \u2013 it just really resonated with me and turbo charged my interest in interior design, and\u00a0to studying it at UWE. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, I\u2019m just slightly too young to have ever partied there, but I remain obsessed with it to this day. I wrote my last essay at university about its design, and even managed to interview Ben Kelly as part of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m very lucky that my wife is extremely laid-back and was fine giving me free reign to go nuts interior-wise when we bought the flat. There are a lot of prominent beams, and straight away I knew I\u2019d paint them like those that were at the Hacienda. We didn\u2019t decorate it all in one go; it\u2019s been more of an organic process.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Mandatory
\n\t\tA clubber by the yellow hazard tape and bollards similar to those in Harry\u2019s home (Picture: Peter J Walsh\/Pymca\/REX\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always thought most people\u2019s homes are a bit boring really \u2013 and I\u2019ve been asked before why our flat is so loud, but I always think, why is everyone else\u2019s so dull?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m also inspired by industrial and rustic themes, as well as Bristol\u2019s street art scene, pop art, kitsch, maximalism, dance music\/rave\/acid house culture and even politics and activism.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry\u2019s favourite room is the living room-cum-nightclub (Picture: Jon Rowley)
\nWhat\u2019s your favourite room and why?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The living room\/home bar\/nightclub! I feel I\u2019ve poured all that I am as a designer into this room, as well as reminding me that this was essentially the room where I became a designer.<\/p>\n

Do you feel like you have enough space?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pre-lockdown, yes, we did. But now, the spare room is my wife\u2019s home office. I also really need space for a workshop and my own design studio, as I take the next step in opening my own interior design practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do you have plans to change the property?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

No. But we are now selling up to get a house that will fit in a design studio, workshop (and maybe even a nightclub room).<\/p>\n

Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nope!<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry says his wife is very relaxed about the decorating (Picture: Jon Rowley)
\nWhat do you want people to know about buying a home?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Honestly, we just got really lucky with a flat that, for unexplainable reasons, couldn\u2019t shift for what was a real bargain price.<\/p>\n

But I can\u2019t give people advice on how to have good luck. The housing market is a killer, and I believe the government really needs to do more to help young people get on the ladder.<\/p>\n

What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re selling up and looking to move to a house in Edinburgh for a change of scene \u2013 I want to explore more work opportunities and hopefully get a new place to put my stamp on with more space.<\/p>\n

Shall we have a look around?<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tWelcome home! (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tWe\u2019re huge fans of the leopard print sofa (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\t\u2026Pat Butcher realness? (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tSpot the playful acid house sign in the background (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry\u2019s a big fan of the bar space he\u2019s created inside the living room (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tIt\u2019s just like the disco ball inside the original nightclub (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tDo we have a Nintendo fan? (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tYou can\u2019t go wrong with a lava lamp either (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tIt\u2019s a pop of colour in here (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry and his wife are moving back to Edinburgh (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tEven the traffic bollards are Ha\u00e7ienda-style (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tShall we put a record on? (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tPop art is another of Harry\u2019s interior design inspirations (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tThere\u2019s another disco ball in here (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tEven the hallway is colourful (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry\u2019s wife uses the second bedroom as her home office (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tThey repurposed the second bedroom during the lockdown (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tIn their next space, Harry wants his own workshop (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\t\u2026which is part of the reason they\u2019re moving to Edinburgh (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry is constantly asked why his flat is so \u2018loud\u2019 (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\t\u2026and in turn, he wonders why other homes are so \u2018dull\u2019 (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tA splash of yellow in the kitchen is always a good idea (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tEven the bin matches the cupboards (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tThe wallpaper in here is super funky (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tWe\u2019re always in favour of clashing patterns (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tAre those two cinema seats we spy? (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tLook at those big bassy speakers (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tIs this the ultimate party flat? We think so (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tWe think we\u2019re allergic to mornings, too (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tOne can never have too many wall prints (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tThere\u2019s an industrial vibe going on in here (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tHarry loved designing the flat so much he retrained in interiors (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\t\u2026and now he\u2019s looking to open his own interior design practice (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gv
\n\t\tAnd of course, it\u2019s the essential What I Own toothbrush shot (Picture: Jon Rowley)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tWhat’s your home like?\t\t\t<\/p>\n

This year\u00a0Metro\u00a0<\/strong>is partnering with the\u00a0Ufurnish.com<\/a>\u00a0Home Awards<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to bring readers the best in UK property.<\/p>\n

From jaw-dropping before-and-after renovations to effortlessly stylish spaces on a budget and rental DIY masterpieces, the awards recognise outstanding talent across 20 categories covering interiors, gardens, furniture innovation and home accessories.<\/p>\n

As part of our partnership,\u00a0Metro\u2019s Property channel\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>will be full of inspiring homes, fly-on-the-wall property pictures and tips and tricks from those in the know.<\/p>\n

Need some inspo (or some eye candy)?\u00a0We\u2019ve rounded up nine winners<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0from last year\u2019s awards to get those creative juices flowing.<\/p>\n

Head to\u00a0<\/a>Ufurnish.com<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to enter now.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sign up for must-read property stories, DIY hacks and tips for buying a home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019re in colourful Bristol this week visiting Harry Matuszewicz-Milne (Picture: Jon Rowley) Welcome back to\u00a0What I Own\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Metro\u2019s property…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13177,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8818],"tags":[381,748,393,4884,6333,388,2465,2516,16,15,8925],"class_list":{"0":"post-13176","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bristol","8":"tag-bristol","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-housing","13":"tag-lifestyle","14":"tag-manchester","15":"tag-property","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom","18":"tag-what-i-own"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114323907210469239","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}