This house ditched brights for neutrals to create a calming home
Eager to move out of their one-bedroom flat for something bigger, but wanting to stay local, this couple spotted this three-bedroom Edwardian semi-detached in Surrey by chance while scouring the internet.
“I was initially told that the property had been on the list for a long time because the owner was determined not to drop the price,” the owner explains. “The rooms were painted in bright, dramatic colours and needed a lot of work, but that didn’t deter us, even though we couldn’t afford it. I saw the potential and over time we wore the owner down with our offers until we finally got there!”
Kitchen
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“After moving in, we lived with the situation while thinking about what we were going to do and building up a fund. We renovated the large bedroom on the first floor for ourselves and installed a new bathroom, as these rooms would not be affected by what we had planned. We had a loft conversion on our to-do list, as well as demolishing the wall between the small kitchen and the large, underused dining room.”
“As I have a background in interior design, I was confident enough to design and manage the project myself. So we used a structural engineer rather than an architect, which saved us money. We needed planning permission for the loft conversion, but this was obtained without any hassle within the standard six-week time frame.”
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“I found out I was pregnant with my daughter on New Year’s Eve, which really threw a wrench into our plans. We had to get to work, so construction started in March the following year, which took five months, was on schedule and went relatively smoothly.”
“The roof came off first, as the house was built from the top down, knocking down the wall and installing the kitchen last. It felt like we were camping most of the time, but we knew it would be worth it in the end.”
“We exposed the masonry of the fireplace and installed the range cooker there. The Shaker-style kitchen and Silestone countertops are both OG kitchens.”
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“We knocked down a wall to create an open kitchen/dining room. The old kitchen was tiny and the dining room was huge, so it makes more sense now.”
“Having the island in the middle of the room creates a nice barrier and means guests don’t have to worry about the professional side of the kitchen, plus there’s more space to prep.”
Living room
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“When it comes to decorating, my style is quite understated, relying on subtle earthy colours and a mix of vintage and contemporary furniture.”
“Lighting is also something I think about a lot. I was previously a lighting buyer at Heal’s, so figuring out where lights will go, how they will work in the room, and choosing products that will last and can move with you is second nature to me.”
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“The dark pink walls in the living room – Sulking Room Pink by Farrow & Ball – were a bit of an experiment. I don’t think my husband was keen at first, but now he loves it. Our leather sofa is from Next and the cushions are from Heal’s.”
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“I love all things vintage. I found this sideboard to showcase all my favourite things. It’s Danish and I bought it online from a collector in Copenhagen for £600.”
Corridor
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“Stylish new laminate flooring has been installed in the hallway. We inherited the stained glass front door, which is not original, but we replaced some of the panes that were broken.”
Master bedroom
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“I kept our master bedroom understated with my favourite rust and off-white tones and invested in solid oak flooring from Kahrs. The bedding is from The Secret Linen Store and the rug is from John Lewis & Partners.”
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“On the other side of the spacious master bedroom, there is a place to sit and relax in a Loaf chair, while the bathroom is to one side with a sliding door.”
Attached bathroom
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“The en-suite shower is tucked away to the right, out of sight, and doesn’t obstruct the view. It’s nice to be able to step into your own shower in the morning. The walls are painted in Sanderson’s Squirrel and the Fusion vanity is by Hudson Reed.”
Guest room
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“The large front bedroom has now become a guest bedroom and has been painted in Tracery 11 by Little Greene, with matching green bedding from HM Home.”
Bathroom
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“Beautiful speckled tiles add a wow factor to our large bathroom. The Nuie tub is by Hudson Reed and the terrazzo tiles are by Mandarin Stone.”
“I chose a pink color to paint the walls: Dorchester Pink Pale by Little Greene. The Fusion vanity is by Hudson Reed and the white Artisau tiles are by Topps Tiles.”
Nursery
(Photo credit: David Giles)
“The layout of the third bedroom was changed to accommodate the staircase leading up to the loft. I kept things simple in the nursery with white furniture and plenty of storage and shelving options. The Sniglar bed, chest of drawers and shelves are all from Ikea, while the rug is from Totter and Tumble.”
“After considering and rejecting a further extension to the rear of the house, we have decided to enjoy our home for a while. We will consider moving further out of London at some point and I am sure we will end up looking for another project!”