Stylists at Home

as we didn’t want to rush when making decisions. We chose neutral cabinets from Ikea and a warm wooden worktop. The scheme has been kept nice and light as it’s quite a small layout, and space has been maximised by hanging wall units for extra storage – although we did find enough room to squeeze in a slimline dishwasher.

Finding inspiration

I’ve always preferred modern interiors, but I also wanted some shabby-chic pieces to add a little bit of depth to each room. I think it’s nice to introduce something that’s slightly different to a scheme. I’m also a big fan of handmade accessories, which I’ll either buy or craft myself.

When it came to decorating, I found that I was inspired by various things. I spent quite a lot of time browsing Pinterest and Instagram, and I read loads of interiors magazines and books, too. I also follow ruth SAYS a few interiors bloggers online and am constantly taking photographs of things when I’m out and about – whether it’s a pretty shop display or something that’s caught my eye at a museum.

We started off by painting all the walls in Pure Brilliant White emulsion from Dulux for a fresh unified look throughout. I then decided on a pastel colour theme for the details, using pale pinks and mint hues – I find that these shades make me feel happy and positive. Although it’s quite summery, the colour scheme actually works all year round as I can use different accessories to alter the feel of the house as the seasons change – for instance, in the cooler months I introduce more layers and texture.

In the open-plan living room/dining area, I chose a pale wallpaper from Harlequin and soft grey sofas from DFS, which I’ve dressed up with pastel cushions. We also fitted a fireplace to make it feel cosy in