Stacey Solomon has offered her social media followers a first look at her family’s new residence, marking a significant transition from their beloved former home, Pickle Cottage. The television personality and her husband, Joe Swash, along with their children, have embarked on a new chapter, relocating to a Victorian property that Solomon has affectionately dubbed the ‘Pickle Project’.
A New Doorstep and a Fond Farewell
On a Friday evening, Solomon shared a heartwarming image on Instagram featuring herself, Swash, and their children gathered on the doorstep of their new home. The accompanying caption read: ‘Home is wherever I’m with you… Pickle Project, Here We Go.’ The couple are parents to Rex, Rose, and Belle. Solomon also has two elder sons, Zachary and Leighton, from previous relationships, while Swash has a son, Harry, from a prior relationship.
The initial images reveal an impressive entrance to their new abode, characterized by large white double doors set against a backdrop of intricately patterned, multi-coloured tiles. Inside, Solomon offered a peek at a beautiful fireplace, suggesting one of the home’s spacious living areas. She shared her feelings about the move, writing, ‘Happy Saturday. Feels so strange not to be waking up in Pickle Cottage but so excited to be taking it all in and wondering what to do with this place.’
The Emotional Departure from Pickle Cottage
The decision to leave Pickle Cottage, a property the couple purchased for £1.2 million, was described as a ‘massive decision’. The former Tudor-style home, which served as the venue for their 2022 wedding, boasted features such as an outdoor swimming pool, a utility room, and charming traditional elements like internal fireplaces and wooden beams.
Solomon explained that the primary motivation for the move was the desire for more space, particularly to accommodate their growing family of animals and to establish a dedicated vegetable patch. She elaborated on the emotional process of leaving their cherished home:
- ‘Leaving Pickle Cottage was a massive decision for us; we had a lot of people we needed to speak to, we needed to get the kids around to the idea and speak to all our friends and neighbours in the area.’
- ‘We have just waited until someone amazing came along and fell in love with the cottage.’
She emphasized the deep personal connection to Pickle Cottage, stating, ‘Pickle Cottage is our dream house. As soon as we moved here, we fell in love with it, and I still love it so, so much. It’s a really special place to us. I gave birth to both of the girls there; we got married there. It’s just so special to us.’
A Vision for the Future: Space for Animals and Growth
Despite the sentimental attachment to Pickle Cottage, the couple’s long-held aspirations for a more expansive lifestyle ultimately guided their decision. Solomon revealed their ongoing desire to ‘rescue more animals, grow more vegetables’. This ambition led them to seek a property with more land.
The search culminated in finding a new location that resonated with their vision. ‘We saw somewhere, and I was like, we could have a massive vegetable patch, and we could offer our land to animals who need it and stuff like that. We could bring the horses back there, the ponies, and we went to see it, and we fell in love,’ Solomon recounted.
Acknowledging the difficulty of the choice, she added, ‘It wasn’t an easy decision. We built our lives together at Pickle Cottage, but now we have found somewhere where we can see our family growing and really flourishing, and this is the place.’ The move signifies not just a change of address but a deliberate step towards fulfilling their long-term goals for their family, their animals, and their passion for cultivating their own produce.
The ‘Pickle Project’ Begins
The initial glimpses of the new Victorian home suggest a property with character and potential. The striking entrance and the promise of more space set the stage for the ‘Pickle Project’ – a new phase of life for the Solomon-Swash family. While the interiors are yet to be fully revealed, the excitement surrounding the renovation and personalization of their new dwelling is palpable. Fans and followers will undoubtedly be keen to witness the transformation of this new house into a home, reflecting the family’s unique style and their expanding needs.
The move underscores a commitment to creating an environment where both their human and animal family members can thrive. The prospect of a large vegetable garden and the ability to provide sanctuary for more animals are central to this new chapter. As they settle in, the focus will likely shift to making the Victorian house their own, blending its existing charm with their personal touches and future aspirations.
