A family trip to Florida inspired me to use bold patterns
Inspired by a family trip to Florida, Kel Harmer has created a laidback holiday feel in her new-build home
‘With two young children, we weren’t looking for a project that needed a total renovation so this new-build was perfect’
MY STORY
After living in an apartment, we were so ready to move into a larger home. When we stumbled across this one, we loved the generous size of the rooms and the high ceilings. With two young children we weren’t looking for a project that needed a total renovation so this new-build was perfect.
The house was pretty much all magnolia so I couldn’t wait to start decorating. We began upstairs with the girls’ rooms and worked our way down the house.
Three years after moving in, we tackled the kitchen, which was probably the biggest job as we knocked down a wall to make one space. I found an affordable Shaker-style kitchen in Magnet, which we customised with handles, taps and worktops we bought separately. It saved us a lot of money and gave the space a designer look. Next, we put in bi-fold doors to the garden, which are especially great during the summer months.
It took a while to put personality into this house and I made a few mistakes with colour along the way. It was during a holiday to Miami that I got my inspiration when I fell in love with the bold décor of the area. Instead of bringing back souvenirs, I returned with a love of colour and pattern. Since I’ve been braver in my home, it’s really taken shape. The palm-print wallpaper is the latest addition inspired by our trip.
Kitchen
‘When we moved in, the kitchen had dark laminate worktops, which made it feel gloomy, and the breakfast bar faced a wall making it feel very unsociable,’ says Kel. The couple ripped out the units, replaced the flooring and installed a new kitchen from Magnet in Leighton Grey. ‘Dan loves to cook while I enjoy making cocktails and canapés. We entertain lots so our kitchen had to work harder to match our busy social life.’ Kel chose a palm-print wallpaper from Wallpaper Direct for a feature wall, along with a neon print from Punk Haus.
Dining area
Kel spotted the cane dining chairs on an American website but struggled to find them in the UK. ‘After a lot of searching, I eventually found some on eBay, even though they were advertised as ‘pub chairs,’ she explains. ‘I ended up winning 12 of them and they only cost £120 for the lot. I’ve only used four here, but I keep the others in the loft for when we have guests over.’ The builders who fitted the couple’s kitchen also made the built-in bench complete with a lift-up lid, which the family use to store shoes and bulky kitchen items. Above the table hangs a cane light fitting from Wayfair, which complements the jungle-look palm-print wallpaper.
The peach cushions on the chairs are from Kel’s interior shop, Oh So Kel.