Welcome to my home
Reena Simon’s first impression of her house was of a dark, unloved property that didn’t feel at all like the light, bright and cosy family home she was looking for. But, walking through the rooms, she began to see its potential until eventually, the exposed brickwork in the main bedroom finally won her over: ‘I was drawn to the age and architectural details of the house so, although it resembled an Eighties ski lodge with orange pine cladding, I could see its character and charm,’ she says.
The biggest challenge was how to transform the dark rooms downstairs into bright, open family spaces. ‘We stripped out all the elements that were making it feel cramped, including uneven flooring, cladding, shelving and a sunken fireplace,’ says
Reena. ‘We fitted extra-wide oak plank flooring, which lengthens the spaces and creates a tactile, natural look with a Scandinavian feel that I love. I’m drawn to lots of design influences, but my style is modern rustic Nordic, with an industrial vibe. I think it works if you embrace any trends that appeal to you and use them to personalise a simple room for a look you love.’
Installing new bifold doors in the kitchen was transformative. ‘I can now be cooking as the children play in the garden and we don’t have to spend half an hour getting coats on to go to the park,’ says Reena. Knocking out a small utility room further opened up the space. ‘One of the hardest things about a small, busy family home that lacks built-in storage is finding a place for everything. I’ve used a combination of freestanding units and baskets that look good and hide plastic toys. I also look for vintage pieces that can be adapted into clever storage solutions, like old wooden crates.’
“Our home brings me year-round joy – cosying up around the woodburner in winter or throwing open the bifolds in the summer”
“I love having shelves in the kitchen as it opens up the room and lets us display the things we use every day”
“Orange pine cladding made this room resemble an Eighties ski lodge, but I saw character and charm ”
WHAT i’ve LEARNED “Trust your instincts. I lacked confidence in some of my decisions – such as the patterned kitchen floor – but I’m glad now that I stuck to my guns. It’s always best to follow your heart when it comes to design choices!”