6 minute read
ON THE COVER ALL IS CALM One couple got stuck into DIY to modernise their Victorian cottage
‘The house had plenty of potential,’
LI V ING ROOM
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Above Assorted throws and cushions from H&M add texture to the room’s second, more subdued sofa – Tom in beige, from DFS. A stylish Made.com pouffe is a versatile addition, its rust colour tying in with the shades on the artwork recalls Georgina Smith, who runs the Instagram account @_itstartedwithacushion, which showcases her home’s renovation. Working to a strict budget, Georgina and her husband Joe have transformed the property by undertaking lots of jobs themselves. ‘It was slightly worn and tatty, but it had lots of character, including high ceilings, large windows and original fireplaces, which were all big ticks for us,’ she explains. ‘Plus it didn’t need any structural changes – thankfully, the previous owners had already moved the downstairs bathroom upstairs – so it was just a case of a lot of decorating and modernising.’ A scroll through Georgina’s Instagram posts reveals beautifully styled rooms packed full of inspiring shades and clever ideas, with virtually no traces of the house it had once been. ‘I love colour but I prefer a muted palette over a bright scheme,’ she says. ‘Warm neutrals help me create rooms that are cocooning and comforting, and into those spaces I tend to add a pop or two of something bolder, such as blues and greens. I like to use paint in interesting ways, whether that’s the “colour drench” in our guest room or the statement ceiling in my dressing room. A golden rule in our house is no white skirting: instead, it’s always painted in the same colour as the walls, which makes the rooms feel bigger and more seamless.’ Once the colour scheme was decided, the couple moved on to the more practical elements of the refurbishment, taking a methodical approach. Neither was afraid of getting their hands dirty. ‘We took rooms completely apart and put them back together again, and we tackled the spaces one by one,’ says Georgina. ‘With my job I’m constantly inspired to decorate, so some rooms are even on their second makeover.’ Since moving in, they have managed to revamp all three bedrooms, the kitchen, dining room and most of the garden, with plans to refresh the bathroom already under way. Georgina explains: ‘I set the vision – Joe completely trusts me – but we both get stuck into the DIY. We learn as we go, and are so proud of what we’ve achieved. We’ve called in a few tradespeople for work we couldn’t do, of course – such as the electrics and a new boiler – but other than that we’ve pretty much done everything else.’ First on the list was the living room, as the couple wanted at least one space to escape to while the chaos of decorating unfolded around them. They immediately set to work by installing simple panelling on the walls to add character and giving everything a much-needed lick of paint in Georgina’s signature warm neutrals. Texture and softness in sofas and throws warmed things further, while gold accents added a luxurious edge to boho elements. ‘It’s small but cosy,’ she says. ‘I know open-plan living is a huge trend, but I love having separate rooms for different moods.’
Next was the dining room – the heart of the home and where the couple entertain – which has since been through two style updates. ‘I wanted to embrace the fact that the room is dark, and wrap the
K ITCHEN
Replacing the previous wall cabinets, an oak shelf houses an eclectic mix of accessories. The rug is H&M Below A homemade curtain cleverly conceals kitchen accessories. The wall light is Spark & Bell walls in warmth, so I went for a pinky brown, which fills me with joy,’ says Georgina. ‘I love cosying up by the log burner with a glass of red, or setting the table ready for a romantic night in.’ The star of the show is undeniably the G Plan dining table and chairs, around which the couple’s social life revolves. ‘I get so many comments on Instagram about them,’ says Georgina. The home bar adds a glamorous touch for mixing and muddling cocktails – useful during the lockdowns.
The galley-style kitchen is through the dining room and, thanks to some clever updates, has been completely transformed. ‘It had good bones, with wooden Shaker cabinets and a classic butler’s sink,’ says Georgina. ‘But it just felt dated and closed-in because of the wall-mounted cabinets. Luckily, my dad is a kitchen fitter, so he came to help us take it all apart and reconfigure it, then I painted the cabinets in Olive Green by Dulux Heritage and added an oak shelf for displaying my favourite things. Finally, we swapped the wooden floor for modern tiles and installed a new worktop. It cost just £3,000 in total, but it looks like a whole new kitchen.’
Upstairs, Georgina and Joe’s bedroom is inspired by boutique hotels they have stayed in. ‘It’s north-facing and quite cool, so I embraced the natural light with the paint colours I’ve chosen, but added bolder pops for warmth,’ she says. ‘I’d like to make over this room again. I’m thinking about going for an oversized velvet headboard surrounded by draped fabric, inspired by a place in Paris I’d like to stay in.’
Across the landing, the guest-room-cum-home-office provides a flexible space for friends who visit, and a desk set up by the window enables Georgina to separate her day job from her home life. ‘I love this room because it’s the sunniest in the house,’ she says. ‘I only use it for working, so it’s easy to close the door and shut off. It has quite a
neutral backdrop, so I’ve filled it with colour using furnishings such as vases, artwork and plants, together with a few personal pictures.’
The third bedroom was quickly transformed into a dressing room for Georgina, with a vanity unit and plenty of clothes storage. The painted ceiling picks out the period detailing of the cornice, and bringing the colour down to the picture rail adds character and somehow makes the smallest bedroom in the house seem bigger.
Finally, the bathroom, while beautified by Georgina herself with a handpainted mural of a rainbow behind the tub, is still on the to-do list. ‘We were lucky to have a pretty good bathroom suite already, so we’ll be keeping that, but when we get the chance we’ll update the taps, shower, tiles and lighting. I can’t wait to get planning,’ she explains.
But where does Georgina get her endless inspiration from? ‘Mostly Instagram or Pinterest,’ she says, ‘but before we bought the house we used to travel quite a bit, so I was also inspired by the colours and styles I’d see in hotels and restaurants, and on the street. I’d use pictures as a starting point and get to thinking about how I could bring a particular vibe to one of the rooms at home.’
While the couple are the first to admit that the house probably isn’t their forever home – ‘we saw it as a good property to update on a budget,’ says Georgina – they have created a space that’s warm and welcoming without breaking the bank. Clever finds and bargain buys riff on designer looks and high street trends, while warming colours flow harmoniously, and paint has been used in some unexpected ways. In addition, of course, embracing DIY rather than seeking professional help has undoubtedly saved them a fortune. All of which has resulted in a stylish stopover before the couple plan their next big move. ‘We absolutely love our house, but we’re realistic, and know we’ll outgrow it,’ says Georgina. ‘It does have potential to extend, but I can’t deny that my heart is drawn to a Georgian house in the countryside.’
