BRINGING OUT BOHO

From white walls and wood floors to rattan and ethnic prints, homeowner Antonia Kiddy let her bohemian style gradually take over her home.

This homeowner let Bohemian style gradually infuse her home.

“WE’VE HAD OUR L-SHAPED SOFA FOREVER, and I’d love to replace it in time, but it’s super comfy and fits into the beautiful bay window perfectly,” says Antonia. “I have lots of cushions and washable throws and quilts to cover it, so it’s practical and works fine for now.”

PROJECT HOUSES CAN BE A FUN CHALLENGE,

but when you’re not prepared for the work ahead, it can be daunting initially. When Antonia Kiddy first stepped into the home her husband, Sam, had bought for them six years prior, she was shocked at the state of the interior. “I’d never actually been inside the house before, but when I came in for the first time, I just cried,” she says. “The whole interior was just so dated and tired, from the shag-pile carpets and flowery wallpapers to the gloomy kitchen and avocado bathroom suite—it all had to go!”

Having just gotten married, they had little spare money, and Sam was working, but Antonia took some time off, and with her mom and uncle helping, they got to work. They stripped off the thick, paint-covered wallpapers and pulled up the old carpets, finding beautiful, well-preserved wooden floors underneath. The interior has slowly evolved as their budget allowed. A few years ago they replaced the kitchen and knocked through the dining room, which made a massive difference. “My style is very laid-back, and I’m always up for a bargain buy or a quick-fix solution,” says Antonia. “I love that ’70s boho feel, but I’m not really into trends. Travel has always been our passion, and almost everything here is secondhand or a souvenir from one of our trips.”

BESIDES PAINTING the fireplace and surround white, Antonia hung up a big, upcycled mirror to boost light and the feeling of space in the living room. House plants are another feature of her home. “We’re quite outdoorsy, and I love having greenery inside too,” she says.

ANTONIA GAVE her upholstered chair a swift facelift with fabric spray, “After a few years the yellow fabric was looking quite grubby, so I just sprayed it dark gray and added the cushion and throw,” she says. “It’s like a new chair.”

A DURABLE, recycled plastic outdoor rug from Cuckooland picks up the soft green of the kitchen wall tiles and breaks up the floor. “We treated ourselves to underfloor heating in here, as part of the major kitchen refit,” says Antonia. “It’s such a luxury!”