this home with personality CREATIVE TOUCH The distinctive decor in this Kent semi reflects the exuberant style of its artistic owner

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From the moment Lovisa Silburn, her late husband Paul and their children first viewed their Victorian semi in Kent, they could see its potential. ‘It had a such a happy family feel, I knew it would be perfect,’ says Lovisa. But even after buying the house, moving in was some way away –a full-width extension to create a spacious kitchen-diner was planned. The upside was that while the family were in rented accommodation, after selling their previous home in west Kent, Lovisa, a creative director for an advertising agency, could plan the interior. Lovisa says her obsession with paint swatches became a running joke with her children, Jacob, 13, and Esther, 12. ‘I would carry little squares of paper in my bag and, every time we went into a shop, they would groan as I rifled through my bag for them,’ she says. ‘But when your mind is buzzing with ideas, it helps to keep a focus. If, say, a vintage vase caught my eye, I’d only buy it if it matched my scheme.’

COLOUR

COORDINATED Lovisa’s core colours of serene pastels and darker blues provide the common thread for this home. There are surprise elements, too, supplied by the vintage pieces. ‘Sticking to a set of colours doesn’t stifle creativity, it just keeps my quirkiness on track,’ she says.

Over time, Lovisa has found that her style has become bolder and brighter, and her talent for seeking out decorative chandeliers, wall lights and sconces has only gathered momentum. ‘Some people buy bags and shoes. I buy lighting,’ she says with a smile. Lovisa also adds vibrancy to her serene pastel backdrops through the use of pattern, and this is a distinctive element of her scheme. In the master en suite she indulges her love of Moroccan zellige and encaustic tiles, but cost was always a consideration and she evened out the budget by using cheaper porcelain patterns in the family bathroom.

PATTERN

AESTHETICS Lovisa’s exuberant style is evident in her choice of fabric and wallpaper, too: the sitting room blinds display vibrant palm fronds, while monkeys scamper up the wall in Jacob’s room and the cloakroom. ‘The wallpaper is from House of Hackney –I love how their designs riff on Britain’s tradition of busy patterns,’ says Lovisa.

Pattern and colour were an aesthetic she grew up with in her homeland, Sweden. ‘People think Scandi homes are all white, with maybe a dash of grey. But, actually, Swedes love colour,’ she says. ‘Think of the folksy 19th-century patterns, Josef Frank’s designs and even Ikea –colour has always been used to add warmth and homeliness.’

The collection of art and photography displayed all around the house reveals the importance Lovisa places on personal items, too. Some paintings are heirlooms, such as the portrait of Lovisa’s grandmother by the fireplace in the sitting room. The newest additions are paintings by Hastings-based artist Rachel Glittenberg, including a striking floor-standing oil on canvas in the family room. ‘Her work is so compelling,’ she says.

Lovisa now also runs interior design company Swenglish Home and it is here that she has honed her blend of Swedish and English styles. ‘A home is where can you bring together something old and something new,’ says Lovisa. ‘It’s a mish-mash of pieces from different places, but put together in a way that is personal to you.’

MASTER BEDROOM A framed Grayson Perry scarf creates a colourful display above the bed. Grayson Perry silk scarf, £85, Tate. Palais de Versaille Sacre Coeur bed, from £2,015, The French Bedroom Company

FAMILY BATHROOM An oversized decorative mirror is the star of the show. Versailles washbasin, £1,060, Fired Earth. Walls in French Gray estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball