The owners of this three-bedroom, semi-detached Victorian mill worker's cottage in Birmingham bought it in 2005, after searching for a more rural setting for their family. Luckily the house was in good condition, so only needed aesthetic updates, including decorating, to reflect its light and bright spaces, which have retained their original features.
They painted the kitchen units, revamped the original floorboards and added their own, vintage-inspired style to the interior decoration. Painted furniture, retro-inspired accessories and pastel colours are key to each room.
This vintage look is inspired by the owner, Katie's event stylist business, TheVintageHouseThatCould.co.uk, and the eclectic look consists of budget buys from boot sales, antique fairs and eBay.
After much trepidation, the owners unveiled original floorboards in the bedrooms, which have been painted white to add to the bright spaces. Downstairs an engineered wooden floor was installed, in a dark wood to contrast with the white walls.
The house is constantly evolving thanks to the creative owner, who has turned her sights to the garden, and the possibility of building a studio for her growing business.
1/10 Exterior
2/10 Living room
The cosy living room is home to a collection of antique pictures, sourced from fairs and junk shops. The range of textured, floral and pastel coloured cushions add interest to the comfortable leather sofa. A small side table next to sofa is a great alternative to a coffee table as it will save on space.
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3/10 Kitchen
Although the kitchen was in good shape when the owners moved in, they wanted to update the cupboards as they were quite dark. They opted for a pretty pastel blue and white colour scheme, which complements the rest of the home. Blackboard paint has been used in the larder-cupboard panels, for a fun twist that is also ideal for weekly shopping lists.
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4/10 Kitchen shelves
Storage is key in any kitchen, and thanks to clever shelving, the owners can display their collection of cute kitchenware that includes vintage scales, coffee pots, a jelly mould and a newer, floral radio. A string of fairy lights completes the quirky look. Simple white metro-style tiles help to give the illusion of more space, as they bounce light around the room.
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5/10 Dining room
The pastel-hued dining room has a quirky display of vintage teacups, which are from the owner's prop collection for her event company. The runner has been made from a length of deckchair fabric, and adds some colour and pattern to the pastel hued, country-style table. The mismatched chairs give an eclectic look to the room.
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6/10 Stairs
The painted stairs have been given a crafty makeover with pasted wallpaper samples. The pastel floral designs stand out against the white scheme, and add interest to an overlooked area. A cheap and easy way to instantly update a staircase!
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7/10 Master bedroom
The master bedroom is an all-white space with splashes of colour in the cushions and cute crochet throw. The original fireplace has been painted white to blend into the scheme, and has been used to display quirky accessories.
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8/10 Girl's bedroom
The owner's daughter's room features a second-hand bed that has been painted with a chalky emulsion. The pretty floral wallpaper is timeless, and extra storage, in the form of floral and wicker boxes, has been added in the unused, under-bed space.
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9/10 Child's bedroom
The owner's son's room follows the same white colour scheme, with painted flooring. Colourful accessories such as the poster and bedding add personality and fun. A small alcove provides storage with the addition of shelving.
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10/10 Bathroom
The owners re-enamelled the bath and painted it a lovely duck egg blue. Luckily the bathroom had been recently refurbished before they moved in, and had the panelling, bath and toilet, but they had to replace the shower enclosure.
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They have made a feature of the plain wall by hanging a collection of vintage mirrors. It's the perfect finishing touch to a house that's full of shabby chic charm.
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