Style advice
Three simple tricks to try in your own home
‘A renovation is a journey that happens in its own time so we’ve learned to love what we have in the moment and we add to it when time and funds allow’
BUY SECOND-HAND ‘Vintage stores, antique fairs and charity shops are a treasure trove of characterful, unique pieces that cost far less than buying new, and often support a good cause. I enjoy thinking about the history of a pre-loved piece, and recycling and reusing furniture and accessories is something I like doing. This chest of drawers was only £20 and it’s now full of Play-Doh. The candelabra is from 1010 Vintage and the peacock fireguard was a lucky find in a British Red Cross charity shop.’
CREATE A COSY LOOK
‘ This part of the house is the modern new-build, and it was quite box-like to start with, so I wanted to make it feel more worn and lived-in. The cream, distressed-effect tiles break up the white walls to stop the room feeling stark and too monochrome, and the warm, textured floor tiles are my nod to the Victorian flagstones that I’ve seen in old photos. I found the original Fry’s advert while on holiday in The Old Forge Antiques in Swanage.’
BE READY TO COMPROMISE
‘A small budget brings hard decisions. I’d have loved a Belfast sink but solid wood or granite worktops, which it would need to sit on, were too expensive. I’m really pleased with these cost-effective wood-effect laminate worktops as they are easier to maintain than real wood. The black sink complements the rest of the room and helps bring my look together. This old bread bin, from charity shop Emmasus, holds loads of food and fits with the room’s vintage vibe.’
MY EXPERIENCE
When we first moved here, the ground floor was so un-familyfriendly that we knew we’d have to extend. The tiny kitchen was across the hall from the other downstairs room, where we’d put a small dining table, so whoever was cooking was isolated from the rest of the family. I longed for an open-plan kitchen-diner, but we needed to save up first, so we just lived with what we had for a couple of years.
When work finally started, I decided I didn’t want white goods taking up precious space, so we converted the old kitchen into a utility room. The builders kept the original cooker and sink working for as long as they could, but there was a time when I had neither, and it was tricky to manage, especially with two small children.
Also, when the builders put the props in to extend the back, all the plaster came down in my daughter’s room and I did wonder whether we were doing the right thing. But the builder was amazing and repaired everything, and things started getting better!
We chose the cabinets from Sheppards DIY, a small family-run company, and I sat with its kitchen planner to create the design. I liked the symmetry of cupboards either side of the cooker, and I wanted large corner base units, as I prefer to have pots and pans hidden, rather than on display. The floor was then bare concrete for a year while we saved again to buy tiles, but I’m thrilled with the final result. I feel quite emotional when I think about what we’ve achieved. Although it’s taken time, as we had to save as we went along, I appreciate it all the more because of that!