CLEVER WITH COLOUR
Ruth Culhane’s Victorian villa has been brought back to life with bold shades and touches of texture
Wow-factor wallpaper and bold paint hues create interest in a Surrey period villa
Looking around Ruth Culhane’s beautiful Victorian villa, there is something interesting and colourful at every turn. With her penchant for bold colours, vibrant wallpapers and her resourceful purchasing prowess, she has created a unique family home. ‘My husband Simon and I bought this house because we wanted a bigger garden for our three dogs,’ says Ruth. ‘It was around the corner from where we lived and as soon as I walked in and saw the garden, I knew it was right. I loved the house too, even though it needed renovating, but
I was confident I could bring it back to life.’
The family lived in the house for eight months to familiarise themselves with the space before moving out for the two-year renovation. ‘Living in the house for a while meant I understood the flow of the space and it helped us to plan the rooms,’ says Ruth. ‘We knocked two rooms into one to create the sitting room and, unfortunately, many original features, such as fireplaces, had been ripped out, so we set about restoring the house to its original glory.’
Ruth had a clear vision of how she wanted the house to look. ‘The interior isn’t very light, so I decided to use dark colours to complement the period of the property,’ she says. ‘The blue Venini chandelier was the starting point in the sitting room and encouraged me to paint the whole space in an inky dark blue. As the paint went on, I felt the room was big and airy enough to take the colour onto the ceiling too. The
strong shade really complements the period of the house and I absolutely love it.’
Ruth is also a huge fan of wallpaper and will happily while away hours on the high street hunting for the right pattern and colour. ‘I have such a love for wallpaper and as you can see, I’ve used it in a number of rooms,’ she says. ‘I never tire of the Surfacephilia Beau wallpaper in our bedroom because it’s so bold but it doesn’t feel overpowering. I also enjoy hunting down mid-century light fittings. It’s very satisfying when you find something you really love for your home.’
Ruth’s house is an eclectic mix of old and new, and she’s especially proud of her auction house and ebay finds. ‘I have some old furniture that’s more expensive, but I also like to recover things from ebay, which I might slightly alter,’ she says. ‘It makes the house more interesting. I bought the kitchen units and island from a designer in London because it was the size and shape I like. It was green and ex-display, so I had it resprayed in grey and added new worktops. I’m delighted with how original it looks.’
Deana Ashby from Bathrooms & Interiors lent her expertise to create a lighter feel in the bathrooms. ‘I wanted a white scheme and Deana sourced some beautiful mosaic tiles with a pearl effect,’ says Ruth. ‘She also added gorgeous little details, such as lovely handles and mirrors.’ As a result, Ruth and Simon now not only have the ideal garden for their dogs, they also have a beautiful, vibrant home.