COLOUR CONFIDENCE

Melanie Lissack transformed the well-maintained but bland Georgian home she shares with husband Russell and son Jaxon, using bright, sympathetic colours to accentuate period features

‘I thought this house was too small when I first saw the estate agent’s photos, but Russell convinced me to have a look,' says Melanie. 'As soon as I saw it in person, I was smitten. The pretty door and driveway had kerb appeal, and inside the rooms had a lovely feel and were full of light. We put an offer in on the spot.

‘Previous owners had done all the hard graft, like changing the windows, and the house had been well cared for. However, all the rooms were painted beige or cream, so my plan was to add colour to reflect our personalities. I was on maternity leave at the time, so it was the idealsized project for us to take on.

‘We lived in the house for two months, taking in the natural light and proportions before we picked up a paintbrush. We started with the kitchen: the units were painted a canary yellow with large brown oversized knobs and cream walls. I painted the doors navy to pick out the accent tile colour on the floor and added copper handles. The colours were chosen to accentuate the period features of the house: I painted the lower half of the dining room dark blue to highlight the fireplace, and in the living room I used a shade that would highlight the arched French doors. We also transformed the bathroom from a beach-themed suite complete with seashells into a pretty vintage-style space

‘When it comes to furniture, if I can’t find what I want, I’ll make it. It's much better than wasting money on buying the wrong things. I still have a lot of plans for my home. I like to switch things up regularly so I’m excited to see how my home will evolve as my style changes over time.’

COSTS & CONTACTS

Project cost £27,200 (including garden makeover)

Interior design Melanie Lissack interiors, melanielissackinteriors.com Dampproofing Essex & Herts Damp Eradication damperadication.co.uk

FORMER GLORY

If you’ve inherited a home with few or no original period features, you can add character by restoring what was there before. This could include reinstating fireplaces, restoring cornicing and plaster ceiling roses, or installing or repairing sash windows (see p79). Undo well-intentioned mistakes like impermeable coatings over breathable stone walls, which can cause damp. Don’t be tempted to add features from other eras: be mindful of the period of the building and choose carefully, then you’re on track for an authentic finish.