Design for Living

A few changes to the layout of a tired Edwardian property and Abi and Ian Powell now have a home filled with contemporary style

Like many city dwellers, Abi and Ian had for a long time wanted to escape to a quieter life in the country. Back in 2012, they decided to make their dream become reality. ‘We wanted a period property, but were limited by our budget,’ says Abi. ‘Ian would have chosen a house miles from the nearest neighbour, but he did need to be within easy reach of work. I was also keen to find a village community with shops and good amenities, including a school for our two young sons, Toby and Reuben.’

The couple hadn’t been house-hunting very long when their present home came on to the market. Abi’s first impressions were far from favourable. ‘The house was horrid and it certainly wasn’t love at first sight!’ she recalls. ‘Red velvet curtains blocked out the light and there were nicotine-stained walls and a dark brown kitchen.’ The couple initially rejected the house as the internal layout needed complete reconfiguring and they both felt it would simply be too costly to renovate. ‘ We saw the potential and loved the fact that it had a huge garden for the boys, but at that time it was beyond our budget,’ she says.

Then fate took a hand. ‘Several sales were agreed on the property, but every single deal fell through,’ says Abi. ‘The house was re-listed a few months later at a lower price, which brought it within our reach. We also sold our own house in just two days for over the asking price, which meant we had more finance to invest in the alterations.’

Abi is an interior architect and was undaunted by the challenge of a top-to-toe renovation. ‘I tried to look at the

property’s existing layout with fresh eyes and rethink the purpose of each room,’ she says. ‘We knew that we wanted a larger kitchen that would be the heart of our home. But I went through lots of pieces of paper, with different combinations of side and rear extensions, before I pinned down the layout that I knew would work.’

Abi and Ian ended up taking down the existing kitchen walls, demolishing the conservatory and extending out over a courtyard. ‘The new kitchen, with its streamlined contemporary cabinetry and huge skylight, is triple the size of the old one,’ says Abi. ‘ We also moved the front door, which was tucked around the side of the house, to create a new entrance and proper hallway. We sacrificed one of the bedrooms to create our family bathroom, too.’

Fine-tuning the decor was a process of trial and error. ‘At first, we painted everything white but it just looked boring,’ says Abi. ‘This house needs shades and contrasts to make it sing. I added a palette of soft greys and warm cream, plus splashes of blue and yellow.’ She also incorporated fun touches like the varnished wallpaper splashback in the kitchen, to stop the space feeling clinical.

The result of Abi’s work is a family home with just the right balance of flow and space, cosiness and comfort. Her home is also a masterclass in how to get the most from a property’s square footage. ‘This house was tired and a bit depressing,’ she says. ‘ We kept what worked from the original structure and added contemporary design ideas to bring it up to speed for 21st-century living. I like to think we’ve brought the house back to life.’

SNUG The colour scheme was inspired by the cloud artwork, which Abi painted for Ian after he’d seen a similar piece. The yellow cushion and side table add pops of colour. Cameron sofa in Brisk Teal fabric, from £995, Sofa Workshop. Stoense rug, £80, Ikea, is similar. Cushion in Mr Fox fabric, £30m, Scion at Jane Clayton

DINING AREA Wall art and dark-toned dining chairs help create a cosy vibe. hudson chairs, £89 each, Cult Furniture, are similar. Amish stars, £35 each, The original home Store at notonthehighstreet.com, would work here

KITCHEN ‘I triple-coated this wallpaper with wipe-clean polyurethane varnish so that it could be used as a splashback,’ says Abi. harlequin Persico wallpaper, £52 a roll, Wallpaper direct, is similar

HALL New wooden beading brings detail and interest to the walls of this reconfigured area. ‘It’s a simple, inexpensive way to add character to a functional space,’ says Abi. Kilo side table, £25; Peeta desk lamp, £30, both habitat. Stainless steel and glass lanterns, £19.99 each, Wayfair, are a match

main BEDROOM Elegant yellow and grey-toned wallpaper strikes a modern sophisticated note in abi and ian’s bedroom. Flight wallpaper by Scion, £39 a roll; Court yellow throw, £35, is similar, both John Lewis & Partners. Napper bed, from £845, Loaf, is a match

BATHROOM a statement laundry basket creates interest in this compact room. Mino drawer unit and basin, £269, Bathstore. Walnut laundry basket, £250, The Conran Shop, is similar

REUBEN’S BEDROOM This fun foxy wallpaper is perfect for a child’s room. Mr Fox wallpaper by Scion, £39 a roll; Star throw £25, both John Lewis & Partners. Hexagon shelves, £75 for three, Maisons du Monde, are similar