Bright and beautiful Creating a home full of light, colour and personality
Careful planning, a clear vision and some clever shopping helped Michelle Dawson create a home full of light, colour and personality
The moment she stepped into the house that was to become her family’s home, Michelle Dawson felt a positive vibe. “I stood in the hall and peeked into the front room,” she says. “The daylight flooding through the bay window was incredible and I knew immediately that this was a special house.”
Michelle and her husband Nick, a telecoms programme director, had been raising a family and working their way up the property ladder over several years. Having sold their previous home, they were renting in Kingston upon thames, while they searched the area for their next project. “We’d renovated before, but this time we wanted a place that needed complete refurbishment, where we could make our mark and build a family home,” says Michelle.
the house that had charmed Michelle was spacious, detached and had potential to extend. on the downside, the interior was damp in places, with an old-fashioned layout and worn, dated decor, but none of that put the couple off. they moved in 2015 with their two sons, Hugo and solomon, spending the next two years learning about the space and planning a topdown transformation. “Everything inside was a bit tatty, but it didn’t matter,” says Michelle, “the boys could tear about as much as they wanted, and we got a really good understanding of the house.” >>
While nick concentrated on the architecture and building aspects, Michelle focused on the interior. by then she was expecting their third child, so her aim was to create a beautiful and practical home to meet the needs of a growing family. With plans in place, Michelle, nick and their boys moved out temporarily and the builders moved in. over several months, the small back kitchen and snug were knocked together, and an extension built on two sides to make a substantial, multipurpose kitchen and living zone. double doors link it to the more formal front sitting room, creating a flexible layout. upstairs the space was remodelled into a large bathroom and four bedrooms. on the second floor, a luxurious master suite was created from the loft.
although they were off-site, Michelle and nick stayed totally involved in the renovation from start to finish. both visited every day to monitor progress and answer questions, while their evenings were spent planning and researching anything from lighting and flooring to kitchen appliances and furniture. “It was all-consuming, and took a lot of energy,” says Michelle. “the minute the boys
were in bed, we’d start discussing the house. We really enjoyed the whole experience, but it did take over our lives.”
Within a year, Michelle and nick moved back in, their new son rafferty had arrived, and the house had been transformed. at its heart, the bright, new kitchen-cum-living room is now the focus of a busy family life. overhead roof-lights and a run of folding glass doors flood the space with daylight. Hefty steel supports add contemporary, loft-style appeal and help designate the different zones.
Michelle took the reins when it came to the decorating and her passion for colour is clear. she kept most floors and walls neutral, layering on splashes of turquoise, pink, yellow and green, so the overall effect is fresh, fun and vibrant.
this renovation was Michelle and nick’s most ambitious so far. While not ruling out another move, Michelle is happy for now to enjoy the results of their hard work. “I’m more confident with style choices now, and our home feels relaxed and fun,” says Michelle. “We love spending time here.” >>