Style advice
Three simple tricks to try in your own home
‘When we bought this house, we loved the spacious living room that extends to the dining area and overlooks the garden’
CLEVER DISTRACTIONS
A wall-mounted TV wasn’t top of Beam’s wish list, but it was one of her husband’s musthaves. With a few tweaks, she’s turned this space into a stylish corner. A cosy rug underneath a second-hand sideboard, originally from Swoon Editions, grounds the space while framed family prints and a table lamp add a homely feel. Leafy houseplants, set on different-sized stools – all charity shop buys – add extra interest and cleverly distract the eye from the flat-screen TV.
STYLE UP YOUR FIREPLACE
Having never had a fireplace before, Beam was excited to make it a focal point. First, she painted the wall behind in Bon Bon by Frenchic and then painted the surround, a free find from Facebook Marketplace, white. A spare piece of skirting board was added to the top of the mantelpiece for extra display space, perfect for Beam’s styling to take centre stage. The framed art was made by Beam using up colourful pieces of leftover wrapping paper and wallpaper.
FIND THE PERFECT FIT
Before the makeover, Beam carefully considered different pieces of furniture to make the most of the space available. These B&Q floating shelves, which her father-inlaw put up, were the ideal fit for the tricky alcove space. Among the framed family photos and treasured trinkets, Beam has decorated the shelves with gardening and flower books found in 27 West Park, a favourite antique shop in Harrogate. Book spines that didn’t match the colour scheme have been spun around, with the aged pages adding to the vintage feel.