‘I revived things FROM THE LOFT’

Samantha, 32, used candy shades and transformed pieces to brighten up her brand-new kitchen

When this two-bedroom flat came on the market I didn’t think I’d be able to afford it at first,’ says Samantha. ‘I’d been living in a flatshare in Crystal Palace and really loved the area but there was no way I thought I would ever be able to buy my own home in London.

After doing a few sums and working out that I could rent out the spare room, my dream looked like a reality. I viewed the flat and was completely blown away. It had high ceilings, was painted white throughout – so I could put my own stamp on it – and all the fixtures and fittings were included. Plus, as it was a new-build, I’d have no-one else’s decorating disasters to fix!

Choosing my style

I’ve always loved interiors and I was so excited to be able to decorate my flat exactly how I wanted, especially after living in a flatshare, where I was restricted on what I could change. Leading up to the move, I spent lots of time creating moodboards on Pinterest, and flipping through interiors magazines for inspiration. I’m a big fan of bright colours and, as the kitchen was sage green, I decided to brighten it up with copper and coral hues.

Ever since I first saw a chalkboard wall in a magazine I’ve liked the idea, and so the same weekend I moved in, I got to work creating one – it was the first thing I did, even before I unpacked. I love the sense of fun it lends to the room and my nephew enjoys drawing pictures of dinosaurs on it.

Easy revamps

I’m a big fan of upcycling furniture and, having quite a tight budget, I spent what I did have on a few pieces of second-hand furniture and then raided my parents’ loft for anything that could be given a new lease of life. The Ikea kitchen trolley had been gathering dust in my dad’s garage, so I nabbed it to create an extra worktop and a bit more storage. I painted it with chalk paint to give it a bit of personality and added a metal rail to hang tea towels. On the shelves, I slotted two

‘try painting your furniture – it’s such an easy way to change your colour scheme on a budget and can revitalise tired pieces’

crates that were a brilliant buy from an antiques fair and are great for storage.

Bargain buys

I moved in at the end of the summer and got a lot of pieces in the end-of-season sales. My mum came across the dining table for £100 and I found the Ercol chairs for £30 each on ebay. I painted them to match the trolley, to tie the look together.

Whenever I go to my parents’ house, I’m always hunting around for unwanted items I could use in the flat. I found a cool brass tray gathering dust, and with just a bit of polish, I got it looking shiny in no time. Now it looks great on the table.

I’m really pleased with the way my kitchen turned out, it’s amazing how with just a few simple touches you can really give it personality. The only thing I’d like to do is to get a tiled splashback – I’m saving up for some gorgeous marble-effect tiles.

I never dreamt that one day I’d own my own home and I’m so happy I found an affordable way to do it in an area I love.’

style tip ‘Carry your accent colour through in unexpected ways, like garlands’

Writing’s. on the Wall. ‘i love my chalkboard wall – Peter and i leave notes for each other on it!’

cute display. ‘i found this brass tray in my parents’ loft and use it to display things i like’

glass act. ‘This jug, the glasses, and the print give a great burst of colour’