‘My kids have picked up my love for DIY’
Abby Bray and her fiancé, Chris, have filled their Leicester period cottage with vintage finds and heritage shades, plus plenty of fun details for their children
Vintage buys and a brooding palette gave Abby Bray’s period home a unique charm
After her daughter was born, Abby and her fiancé, Chris, started househunting as they needed more space for their growing family, and knew exactly where they wanted to live. ‘We have always lived in the Leicestershire area and know lots of the little villages inside out,’ explains Abby. ‘We had outgrown our old home and needed somewhere bigger with living space. So, in July 2019 we moved into this period cottage.’ It dates back to the 1820s, and the back of the property was once used as horse stables before being converted into rooms for the cottage. ‘The gardens used to be an apple orchard many years ago and we still have some fruit trees in the garden,’ she says.
By making the move, the family gained a playroom, a larger kitchen, a separate living room and dining room, as well as a generous garden. ‘This house has a lovely history with lots of character, and we fell in love with the higgledy-piggledy layout,’ says Abby.
Although they were charmed by its quirky feel, the cottage’s décor was dreary and lacking in imagination. After years of being rented out, the cottage had been painted
‘The colours work in harmony with the age of our home and they subtly change tones at different times of the day.’
top-to-bottom in magnolia, with lots of dark wooden features, which left the house feeling gloomy. The garden was in dire need of a makeover, too.
In the first few months, Abby concentrated her energy on decorating her children’s rooms. ‘I wanted them to feel settled in their new home, so I gave both of their rooms makeovers,’ she says. Large, fitted wardrobes, a built-in desk and shelving was ripped out to make the rooms feel spacious, and the walls were painted white. Abby added pattern and colour, wallpapering Olly’s room and painting pink scalloped walls in Evie’s bedroom. Although Evie is only two years old, she has strong opinions on the look of her room.
‘She helped me choose the colours and had a say on some of the accessories. She knows what she likes!’ explains Abby. ‘The kids love getting involved, watching me put up shelves and passing me a paintbrush. I think they’ve inherited my love of decorating, which is great as Chris isn’t a fan of DIY!’
Over time, Abby turned her attention to the rest of her house, choosing a palette of heritage shades for the main living spaces.
‘I’m a huge fan of Farrow & Ball paints,’ she says. ‘I find the colours work in harmony with the age of our home and they subtly change tones at different times of the day as the daylight moves.’ She started in the living room, painting a single wall, but over time kept she kept painting more and more, and sharing her decorating progress on Instagram @the_house_of_plants_. ‘I’m known for starting a room, then before finishing I’ll move onto the next project. Although it’s not ideal to ping-pong between rooms, it does mean I can add to each space over time with wallpaper, a dado rail or paint as I decide on the overall look of the house.’
With the help of her mum, Abby also wallpapered the living room and put up decals in the playroom. She wanted the spaces to reflect how the family use them, both in terms of practicality and style. ‘During the daytime we hang out in the kitchen and playroom, as the French doors lead out onto the garden,’ she says. ‘Then, at night, once the kids have gone to bed, Chris and I snuggle up in the living room, which has been decorated with a more grown-up feel.’
One of the biggest projects that Abby undertook this past year was painting the kitchen cabinets by hand. Previously, they had a warm, wooden finish that clashed with the
‘During the daytime we hang out in the kitchen and playroom as the French doors lead out onto the garden.’
black-and-white tiles. Using Farrow & Ball’s Railings, she painted the cabinets herself.
‘At first, I didn’t like the tiling, but once I upcycled the cabinets, I fell in love with the chequerboard effect. It now looks like a designer kitchen, but the transformation cost next to nothing,’ says Abby.
Once the interior was brightened, they turned their attention to the overgrown garden. A landscape gardener replaced the wonky patio slabs and cut back the overgrown bushes and weeds. ‘Overall, we spent about £6,000 renovating our outdoor space, but it was worth it because we live out there in the summer. It feels so much bigger now as well,’ explains Abby. Being savvy with their remaining budget, Chris and Abby then built the shed and playhouse themselves. ‘We were all hands on deck to get this house done and dusted!’ she says. After two years of solid decorating, Abby and Chris are now planning on moving to a nearby village that Chris grew up in. ‘We love this house dearly but now is the best time to move for the children’s schooling. I’m proud that we’ve created a cosy family home. And I can’t wait to start decorating somewhere new!’ Abby smiles.