‘It’s a cocktail of styles i LOVE’
Bold accents, smart shopping and nifty creative touches make Nicole’s beautiful home stand out from the crowd
When we outgrew our three-bed terrace, i knew it was time for a move,’ says Nicole. ‘We loved the area and wanted to stay here, so i felt really lucky when we found this house.
It’s in a great spot near the park and has plenty of space, including a fabulous garden for our three children. Although the style was not my taste, I could see that it just needed decorating. Apart from a smart, new bathroom and utility room, and the simple, white kitchen, the interior was dated. I’m into white walls, dark contrasts, painted floors and lots of light. All the walls here were dreary magnolia or pale grey. Fussy curtains with big pelmets blocked the light and there was dull, beige carpet almost everywhere.
A fresh start
We started by refreshing the dingy rooms with white paint, taking down the curtains and pulling up those drab carpets. Painted wooden floors are a must for me, topped with a patterned rug. We’d sanded the floorboards in our previous house, but the mess was incredible. This time, Brett and I gave all the boards a thorough scrubbing. It was hard work, and we had to leave them to dry for a few days before we could paint them, but they’ve come up really well. They’re durable and easy to clean, and though I do touch them up once a year, I’m not too worried if there are a few marks showing. Unfortunately, I found chipboard rather than a wood floor in the dining area, but I’ve laid a lovely, inexpensive, patterned vinyl instead.
Mixing it up
I love interiors magazines and I’m a massive fan of Instagram (@poetry ofdecor), where I’ve found loads of ideas and inspiration. It’s fun to see what other people have done and then try to put
my own slant on it. I’ve got Scandi, boho and industrial elements as well as bits and pieces from France, where I’ve spent a lot of time, and Germany, where I grew up. I was into “shabby chic” a while back, so I brought some old, painted furniture from our last home. I’ve updated it since, so it looks fresh again. I’d rather not spend too much on furnishing now, as we’ve got young children, and things need to be practical and not too precious.
High-street heroes
Online shops and good-value stores like Ikea, Next, Dunelm and Matalan are my go-tos. One of my best sources for budget furniture is my local recycling centre. You can buy discarded items to revamp and there are some amazing
bargains. I’ve learnt not to rush into buying things. I invested in a few bits when we first moved here, like a bright red clock for the hall, which I realised later didn’t suit the space. If I’m planning to upcycle an item, I’ll have a good think about it first. I don’t always just paint the entire piece, as sometimes leaving a bit of wood showing makes it more interesting.
Decor time
The white walls and painted floors have transformed the house. It flows better now, and feels lighter and more unified. I like having plenty to look at, so I’ve added crisp pattern, strong colour and lots of accessories. One of the spaces I’m most pleased with is the landing. I went for brick wallpaper and a nearly-black floor so it’s definitely dramatic. The
feature wall, which you can see from downstairs, has real impact.
For the living room i picked out coppery highlights, mustard yellow and a rich mid-green that i’d seen on instagram. i wasn’t too sure about the green at first, but i’m finding it so relaxing and it looks amazing with all my houseplants. There’s a lot of charcoal grey in the house too, especially upstairs. in Aimée’s bedroom i’ve softened it with low-key metallic touches and in leon’s room i’ve used it to create a fun mountain mural that he loves.
Easy updates
brett and i have done all the painting ourselves, which has saved us money and i haven’t spent a lot on the decorative touches, either. They’re mostly very quick, easy ideas, like the spot decals on the walls, an image that i’ve printed off and framed myself or even just some colourful cushions stacked on a shelf. Trends come and go and with three youngsters, it’s not the right time for us to splash out on expensive furniture or finishes. in time we’d love to build an extension, which would include a bigger, more sociable kitchen-dining space, but for the moment, our home is practical and comfy, and i love it just as it is.’