Stacey Solomon has opened up about the emotional journey she and husband Joe Swash experienced after purchasing their Essex home, Pickle Cottage, in 2021. The couple, who paid a reported £1.3 million for the property, have since shared numerous renovations with fans, but the initial days were filled with tears.
Emotional Start at Pickle Cottage
Speaking on the podcast Sort Your Life Out: Unpacked with co-star Dilly Carter, the 36-year-old TV personality was asked what she was most proud of regarding her home. She revealed that for the first three weeks after moving in, she and Joe would leave the house crying every day. 'We did not expect to ever grow up and be able to live in a house like that,' she said.
Reflecting on their backgrounds, Stacey noted that Joe grew up in Islington while she hails from Dagenham. 'Pickle Cottage wasn't a dream for us growing up, because I didn't even know houses like that existed,' she added. The couple felt overwhelmed by their fortune, often asking themselves, 'When did this happen and how did this happen?'
Renovation Journey
After purchasing the property, Stacey told fans it needed 'lots of love and TLC' and documented the transformation. Over the years, they have renovated multiple rooms and outdoor spaces, including building a swimming pool and a duck pond, which she described in 2024 as 'the hardest Pickle Cottage project so far.'
The couple lives in the house with their three young children—Rex, Rose, and Belle—along with Stacey's older sons, Zachary and Leighton. Joe also has an 18-year-old son from a previous relationship.
Wedding and Relationship
Joe and Stacey married at their home in 2022, six years into their relationship, after Joe proposed on Christmas Eve 2020 during a family walk in the woods. During the same podcast, Stacey spoke candidly about the realities of a long-term relationship, saying, 'Sometimes I fancy the pants off him and can't wait to come home to see him. Sometimes I'm like, "Get out of my stratosphere – stay away from me." I think we're just like any other couple.'
