The owner decided to move out to Surrey from London to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Here she talks us through her home. ‘When we came to view this 1930s house in Sutton, we knew it was right for us straight away. It hardly need any work, which was ideal as our son was just one at the time and we didn’t want to carry out building works while he was so young.’
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Exterior
‘We loved the open-plan space and large extension that the previous owners had built – it leads out onto the garden and keeps the space feeling really light. As it needed only minimal work – mostly just repainting and changing the colour schemes – I decided to have a go at doing the work myself and I’m really pleased with the results.’
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Hallway
‘The hallway used to be a pinky-peach colour, which I changed to a neutral stone shade to open up the entry way.’ The wood flooring and white accessories add to the light, airy feel that welcomes you into the house.
Wall paint
On Deck by Wilko
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Kitchen
‘In terms of layout, the property was ideal for us. We were lucky that the previous owners had already extended the house, as we later found out they’d encountered some problems along the way.’ Despite facing strict planning permission regulations due to the house being in a conservation area, they managed to work around this and had a large kitchen built to replace the old narrow one, which is now our utility room. ‘I really liked the granite worktops and the fresh colours that were already there when we moved in, so we decided to keep those the same.’
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Dining room
‘I painted a feature wall in the living room, keeping the other walls white to make it look bright. It’s made such a difference – it’s amazing how a lick of paint can transform a space. Wherever possible, I try my hand at DIY – I put together and painted the radiator covers myself, and also painted the dining room table and coffee table legs to give them a more rustic look. I added a ceiling rose and bought extra beads from eBay to attach to the chandelier to really make it stand out.’
Similar chandelier
Dunelm
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Living room
‘My friends can hardly believe our Christmas tree’s a fake, which is exactly what I wanted – a natural look with no hassle. I love its large size, too.’ Go for baubles in red, white and silver and add a few wintry-looking accessories to transform your space for the season.
Christmas tree and decorations
Dobbies
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Bedroom
‘I love the mixture of Scandinavian and shabby-chic decor, and I get most of my inspiration from Instagram and magazines. I try to buy furniture from second-hand retailers and eBay, and love checking charity shops for interior buys – you can find some really unusual and interesting pieces. I even have a branch on the wall in our master bedroom that acts as a curtain rail – I found it in the overgrown disused land near our house. I also made a voile panel canopy that hangs over our bed. It’s easy to change bits, too – if we get bored of any of the furniture or accessories, I sell them on eBay instead of throwing them out.’
Similar duvet set
Very.co.uk
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Child’s bedroom
This child’s room is painted blue, which has a very tranquil feel. Layer lots of fabrics to create different textures, and scour charity shops for key pieces. ‘I found this chair and it goes perfectly with the blue theme.’ The plaque in this bedroom is really cute. It reads: ‘When it rains look for rainbows. When it’s dark look for stars’.
Plaque
Debenhams
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Bathroom
The bathroom is modern and fresh, with clean lines, and a contrasting black floor against the white tiles. The mottled finish of the tiles seems to sparkle in the daylight. Keep things minimalist and uncluttered, with maybe just a plant or two to bring a bit of interest to the room.
Similar tiles
Homebase
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Christmas decorations
Red accents add to the Christmassy feel against the neutral back drop. This red vase and birch tea light holder are ideal, and the cute reindeer cushion is perfect for the festive season.
Similar cushion
Wilko
Click or tap to zoom into this image
Christmas decorations
Faux foliage will last all season long and adds a warmth and festivity to the house. The wreath is also from Dobbies, and the wooden LED house on the top shelf is from Sainsbury’s.
Sainsbury’s
