Television presenters Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash have sold their £1.3million Essex home, Pickle Cottage, to move into a larger property requiring extensive renovation.
The couple announced their imminent departure on Wednesday in an emotional video shared to Instagram, explaining that they needed more space for their blended family.
Solomon, 36, and Swash, 44, originally moved into the Essex residence in 2021. They affectionately named the property Pickle Cottage, and it subsequently served as the main location for their reality television series.
Essex is a ceremonial county located in South East England, situated directly north-east of London. The area is known for its countryside properties and historic villages.
Reasons for the move
Explaining the decision to relocate, Solomon stated that the family required additional land to support their lifestyle goals, including expanding their vegetable patches and housing rescue animals.
Solomon revealed that the couple plan to bring horses and ponies to the new site, describing the upcoming residence as a major project that requires substantial work.
"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," Solomon said in her video update.
She added that they chose to wait until finding the right buyers before finalizing the sale, noting that an incredible buyer had recently fallen in love with the property.
"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," Solomon explained. "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."
She noted that despite their emotional attachment, the desire for extra acreage prompted them to view the new location, where they decided to begin a new chapter.
Family structure and wedding history
The couple share three children together: seven-year-old Rex, four-year-old Rose, and three-year-old Belle. Solomon is also mother to 18-year-old Zachary and 14-year-old Leighton from previous relationships, while Swash has a 19-year-old son named Harry from a past relationship.
Solomon first achieved national prominence on the ITV talent show The X Factor in 2009 before winning I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2010. Swash gained public recognition as an actor on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, playing Mickey Miller, before winning I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2008.
The pair first met in 2010 during the filming of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and later held their July 2022 wedding ceremony on the grounds of Pickle Cottage.
Renovation plans and interior decorating views
Swash noted that the new property represents a major renovation project for Solomon, who has earned a reputation as a DIY enthusiast. Solomon expressed enthusiasm about taking on another house transformation, acknowledging that the new home requires considerable care.
"It's a project, we're moving somewhere really really different and it does need a lot of love and I'm excited to do that all again," she said regarding the upcoming work.
Solomon previously shared her philosophy on home decoration during an interview with House Beautiful magazine when asked about interior design trends she would avoid.
"I don't think there's such a thing," Solomon told House Beautiful. "It bugs me that people have an opinion on someone's house, like if there's not enough colour or if it's too garish. Why have you got an opinion on someone else's house? I don't appreciate it. Let people be free with their own homes and do whatever the hell they want."
She stressed that personal living spaces should focus on comfort and emotional support rather than external opinions.
"It might not be your style and it might not be your taste, but it's not your house," Solomon said. "I feel passionately about people judging other people's spaces. You live in that space. It has to support you in so many ways, whether that's emotionally or through comfort. Who are we to tell anyone that their space isn't what it should be?"
