RACHEL O’CONNELL, INTERIOR DESIGNER, STYLE MY ABODE

+ What was the style brief and how long were you involved in the renovation?

Emily and David were feeling overwhelmed by all the decisions that needed to be made, so the brief was to help them pull together a cohesive and fresh family home. I was involved for about five months.

+ What colour palette did you settle on, and why? We kept it simple with a light grey and white scheme, with dark wooden features and brass accents. This enabled us to choose bolder patterns and colours in the soft furnishings and rugs.

The grey Dulux Manorburn on the walls looks slightly lilac, which adds a really lovely, romantic feel to the home. As it’s a cooler colour, I suggested using a warm-toned wooden floor to help cosy up the space and make it feel more homely.

+ How did you bring visual interest into the home? The home retained the beautiful leadlight windows in the living areas and the ceiling roses, which really are special. I specified the bold palm-leaf ‘Martinique’ wallpaper on the study wall, which is visible from the living and dining areas, to add interest and impact, and white wooden shutters throughout the entire upstairs area to help keep a cohesive, polished look.

Wallpaper was added in the upstairs toilet and feature tiles in the bathrooms. Brass accents were used throughout the home, including handles, lighting and custom-made bar stools. The kitchen island was changed to one made of dark wood-effect Melteca to lend depth. We also brought in some bolder colours in the bedrooms with throws and cushions.

+ What were the main challenges you faced? We had a delay on one of the custom bathroom vanities, which we had to change at the last minute, but it worked out fine in the end.

+ What aspect of the interior design are you most proud of? I love that the home is both cohesive and elegant while keeping to the character and charm of the original bungalow. It’s had an amazing transformation and is now such a gorgeous family home.