‘Mixing different styles made this house our own’

Love a lot of different looks? Nikki and Tom Edwards’ place shows how to put together a unique mix that works

Nikki Edwards could see the potential to modernise a tired east London period house into a family home, but husband Tom wasn’t quite on the same page. ‘He came out of the viewing shaking his head and saying “there’s no way we’re buying that house’’,’ recalls Nikki. ‘But it was in a fantastic location near the tube and in the catchment area for a brilliant primary school.’

Having bought the house, the couple wasted no time getting started on the refurb. ‘We were advised to begin at the top, so we tackled the loft extension straight away and had the whole place rewired.’

Part of this decision was influenced by being able to increase the value of the property by adding rooms, so Nikki and Tom were then able to remortgage after doing the loft to pay for the rest of the renovation.

‘Work on the second phase, the kitchen extension, began in early 2017 and we reconfigured most of the downstairs to give us the spacious layout we envisaged,’ says Nikki. ‘I knew I wanted this part of the house to be very light and airy, so we invested in installing the glass roof, rather than just skylights, and added large sliding doors leading onto the garden.

‘You have to be tireless taking on a renovation project and it’s important not to let contractors lead your decisions or talk you out of ideas you love,’ says Nikki. ‘We’ve learned not to be afraid of taking risks, as most things are reversible and the decisions that feel bold at the time always turn out to be the best in the end! I’ve found Instagram to be a wonderful source of inspiration and advice from fellow renovators. I started my own feed, @this_e17_life, to document our progress and it’s a great way to share tips and tricks.’

“This place was so dated and needed plenty of work – Tom took a lot of persuading when we viewed it!

Invest in hero pieces

An iconic Ercol table is the focus of the dining area. ‘It’s worth spending more on key pieces that will last for years,’ says Nikki. ‘Adding affordable, interchangeable things brings the look together and makes it easy to update.’ BUY THE KEY Pieces Ercol Shalstone table, £899, John Lewis. Cushion covers, from £2.99 each, H&M Home

Use accent colours

‘I’ve styled up the white kitchen with warm woods and pops of colour via accessories to stop it looking clinical. The exposed brickwork on the opposite wall lends a contrasting texture.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Welles bar stools, £129 each, Swoon. Northern Lighting Dokka pendants, £195 each, Naken Interiors. Flooring, £100sq m, Ardex Pandomo

Have a simple foundation to build on

‘Tom and I decided to keep the rooms pared back in terms of the overarching scheme, with white or grey walls and minimal furniture. It has allowed us to build up a layered look with fabrics, art and greenery as each room has progressed.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Ekenaset armchairs, £170 each, Ikea.

For a similar bench, try the Ercol Originals Love seat, from £830, Heal’s. Stellar white marble coffee table, £399, Atkin & Thyme

Take a risk

‘Decisions that feel bold are never as daring as you initially think once the room comes together. We were nervous about buying the blue sofa, but it gets lots of compliments!’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Isla sofa in Prussian Blue cotton matt velvet, £1,790, Sofa.com. Antique brass hexagon mirror, £249, West Elm. Tekouma wool rug, from £279, La Redoute

Work with the original features

Simple alcove cupboards let the Victorian fireplace grab attention, highlighted by a matching blackframed mirror. ‘The reclaimed fireplace has given back some of property’s character,’ says Nikki. BUY THE KEY PIECES Rockford mirror, £130, Exclusive Mirrors. Walls painted in Lamp Room Gray estate emulsion, £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

Finish with texture

‘Different surfaces make a room feel homely and warm. I love to contrast sleek, modern furniture with shaggy rugs or soft velvets to build up a layered look,’ says Nikki. BUY THE KEY PIECES Cameron bedstead, from £625, Feather & Black. Otto table, £149, Swoon. Callista wall clock, £50, Kalee Jones. Luxe console table, £350; the Keira chest of drawers is similar, £450; try the table lamp with marble base, £68, all Oliver Bonas

Don’t squeeze in too much

‘The bathroom is my favourite room in the house. People thought I was crazy for not fitting a shower, but I’m glad I stuck to my guns, as it resulted in a more spacious, luxurious room – and there’s one less shower to clean in the house!’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Cloud bath, £2,295; Cloud basin, £325, both Waters Baths of Ashbourne. Bastide 1470 open washstand, £1,500; St Ives Hepworth porcelain floor tiles, £59.90sq m, both Fired Earth. Round brass mirror, £50, John Lewis. Try Archivo crochet wall tiles, £96sq m, Topps Tiles

Pandomo flooring SELF-LEVELLING POURED CONCRETE LOOKS SIMPLEAND SEAMLESS

Nikki Edwards, a solicitor and mediator, lives here with her husband Tom, also a solicitor, and their son Sebastian, three.A four-bedroom Victorian mid-terrace house in east LondonBought in 2015 for £465,000; now valued at £850,000 THE PROPERTY THE VALUE

BENCH SEAT DRAWERS BENEATH HOLD ALL OF LITTLE SEBASTIAN’S TOYS

Sandblasted glass PRIVACY WITHOUT BLOCKING LIGHT

row of PendantsPUTS THE FOCUS ON THE KITCHEN ISLAND

FOR A HINT OF PATTERN THAT DOESN’T OVERWHELM PERFECT FOR A LIGHT YOU LOOK UP AT FROM BELOW metallic lining wallpaper BACKING

Slim Console HANDY AS A DESK OR VANITY IN A TIGHT SPACE

EXPOSED BRICK AND GROUPS OF PLANTS ADD NATURAL COLOUR TO THE MODERNRUSTIC BATHROOM wood-look TILES IDEAL WITH UNDERFLOOR HEATING AND EASIER TO CLEAN THAN REAL WOOD