come on in!

ABOUT me i’m louise Steen, 48, a journalist, and i live with my husband, James, 51, a food writer, our sons Charlie, 20 and Billy, 16, and daughter daisy, 14, in a five-bedroom edwardian semi in Wandsworth, southwest london. We moved here in february 2004.

my CHALLENGE Turning the boring beige spare bedroom, with its uncomfortable bed and rotten floorboards, into a room filled with colour and a sense of fun that guests would enjoy staying in.

my WISH LIST a new metal bed, whitewashed wooden floor, floral wallpaper, recycled furniture and pastel blues and pinks teamed with pale grey for a shabby-chic feel.