IN THE GALLERY Treasured artworks are displayed to great effect in this stylish Victorian terrace

With only a small budget to play with, a creative couple have updated a Victorian terrace by combining vibrant tones and treasured artworks

Rachel and Mark Forshaw had been living in Rachel’s one-bedroom Georgian conversion flat, a stone’s throw from central London, for three years before deciding to buy a place together. The flat was fast becoming a squeeze for them and their cat Claude, and the couple were beginning to think about marriage and starting a family, so moving to a bigger home in a quieter area had become a necessity. ‘We loved living close to central London,’ says Rachel, ‘but we were happy moving further out so we could afford a bigger property.’

Rachel had grown up in a leafy suburb in south London, where her parents still lived, and Mark had always liked the area, with its good local amenities, spacious green parks, tree-lined roads and beautiful City views. ‘I never intended to move back to my old suburban neighbourhood,’ admits Rachel.

‘It felt strange to even be considering it, but I could see the benefits. The area had really evolved and moving closer to my parents was important to us.’

Rachel and Mark both have a passion for period properties with character, and started looking for something suitable within their budget. It wasn’t long before a charming, three-bedroom, three-storey Victorian terrace came on the market.

‘We loved the look of the house straight away – its three floors made it different from other properties in the area and it was bigger than we thought we could afford, which was a lovely surprise. And it has a huge back garden, perfect for Claude to explore,’ explains Rachel.

‘The house was in an awful state when the previous owners moved in, so a lot of restoration work had been done and a new kitchen and bathroom recently fitted. Apart from damp proofing and redecorating, we didn’t need to do any building work.’ The floors had all been sanded and new windows fitted, including a large one in the study area that stretched almost to the width of the room, flooding the second floor with light. This tall window added a smart, modern feature that complemented the style of the house. ‘It ticked all the boxes and we fell in love with it,’ says Rachel.

The couple moved in in January 2018 and, apart from a few weeks planning their wedding, spent most of their spare time redecorating. As Rachel and Mark both have demanding, full-time jobs, this often meant working late and at weekends. ‘Injecting colour and personality into the house was

our main aim. Every room had been painted a cold grey, so it needed warming up,’ explains Rachel. ‘We didn’t have the budget for a decorator, so had to do the work ourselves. It was big learning curve!’

The first space the couple tackled was the living room. ‘It was important for it to feel comfortable, as it’s where we spend most time relaxing or entertaining,’ says Rachel. They painted the walls a warmer grey and added colour with a beautiful indigo sofa, pastel armchairs, fun artwork and soft furnishings. As the spaces flowed together, they painted the dining area the same colour, but with splashes of black for an industrial feel – beautiful with the deep reds in the dining room’s Persian rug.

A rich green has since been added to the study walls, with a mid-century-style desk and grey swivel chair next to the large window. The main bedroom is painted in a soft blue. ‘We’re not morning people,’ confesses Rachel, ‘so this room needed to be bright and colourful!’

On a small budget, they were unable to replace the kitchen, so the pair transformed the space by painting the walls dark grey and replacing the tiles. ‘We originally wanted teal Metro tiles and tried lots of samples, but when we saw these pink ones, we had to have them. Even the plain white cabinets and grey worktops, which we weren’t big fans of, work well in the scheme,’ says Rachel. ‘It’s the room we’re most proud of, particularly as we did all the work ourselves.’

Mark and Rachel are keen travellers. Rachel moved around a lot as a child and later spent a year in Istanbul teaching, all of which have shaped and inspired her interior tastes. The house features everything from Turkish rugs and paintings by Rachel’s favourite Georgian artist, Eteri Chkadua, to vibrant, Middle Eastern touches and treasured family pieces that have been handed down from her grandmother and parents. ‘It makes me smile how our eclectic mix of furniture and artwork sits so well alongside contemporary fixtures and finds from our travels. They combine to make our home interesting and unique to us.’

Rachel and Mark have accomplished a lot in a short time. Their home is a warm, inviting haven of colour, showcasing a range of different influences while exuding a quietly cool style. ‘We’ve come a long way since our one-bedroom flat,’ says Rachel. ‘I’m delighted with all we’ve achieved, and looking forward to the next stage.’

Follow Rachel on Instagram @claudeandthehouse