5 minute read
‘I LIKE TO THINK ANYTHING GOES!’
k ANYTHING GOES!’
LOUNGE LIVING
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‘I’ve turned the alcoves into alternative-style gallery walls, with a mix of frames, prints and my favourite quirky objects’
IDEA TO STEA L ‘Picture frames make great mounts for wall decorations’
Creative Anna Lewis has transformed her 1930s semi using her love of vintage furniture, moody colouring and all her artistic flair
After a few dramatic life twists and turns, including a new job and divorce, I was loving single life and decided to take on a challenge with a new house that required major renovation,’ says Anna. ‘When I found this house in August 2017, I decided on the spot I wanted to buy it!
Despite it being incredibly dated, I could see the potential immediately and fell in love with the chequered floor in the hallway. I knew it was a huge project, but I felt ready to do it, and over the next five to six months it became a labour of love.
Starting from scratch
Even though the property was really run down, I still paid around £275,000 for it, but I knew I had a reasonable budget to carry out all the work. As soon as I got the keys, I was pulling up carpet in the living room to look at the floorboards, and decided the best way forward would be to get every surface stripped back, so I could start with a blank canvas.
I called in the help of an old school friend, who’s a builder, to do most of the building work while I project-managed. We started by taking the ceilings down, then chipped off plaster to expose old brick walls. Structurally the house was sound, but I decided to knock two rooms into one to create a larger living room.
Back to basics
With no heating or electricity in the house, I had the whole place replumbed and rewired. One of the best decisions, although costly, was to replace all the windows, which made a huge difference. I then had most surfaces replastered, which ensured we had good walls to work with. I couldn’t believe the amount of dust and dirt that was produced, so
Make it!
DIY A BOOKCASE
Floating shelves: If you have an alcove, fit floating shelves from floor to ceiling. Measure the average height of the books, so shelves can be evenly spaced to accommodate your collection.
Call in a carpenter: If you want to make more of an impact, a local handyman could create something like Anna’s feature wall. Plan your design in advance, including how many shelves and compartments you’d like and decide if your shelves are just for books or if you’d like to include a few display areas, too.
Use a ready-made bookcase: Try installing several next to each other (an Ikea Billy bookshelf works well) and fix them together to ensure they are sturdy. Add a plinth along the top to tie them in, then paint them in a single colour for unity. For safety attach the bookcases to the wall so they can’t be pulled over.
GALLERY TR AIL
‘I love vintage buys and quirky objects I find in flea markets and salvage yards’
feature had been removed or was broken, I tried to have it recreated, as I love that nostalgic feeling and wanted my home to reflect my style and love of all things old. Stand-out style
In the bathroom I reconfigured the space to make room for my roll-top bath. I’ve definitely got an eye for a bargain, so I bought the basics for both the bathroom and kitchen from trade to save money, but searched flea markets, salvage yards and online shops to get pieces that would add interest. The sink unit, for instance, was a junk shop find that I updated. The kitchen cabinets were also a simple white Howdens design, but I updated them with leather handles I made myself. I wanted to keep the background as subtle as possible so all the vintage buys would stand out and be the focus of the room.
I’ve always known my style and felt comfortable with how I’d decorate the house. I think zoning areas worked for me, but by painting the living room wall in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue it helped set the
IDEA TO STEA L ‘Use touches of gold and brass to add a luxe feel’
never know I found it in a scrapyard years ago! I’ve displayed all my finds I’ve collected over the years on my travels.
As I mentioned earlier, the hallway floor was one of the reasons I bought the house and I love the fact it’s the first thing you see when you walk in. I painted a small area in a deep blue and then fixed some of my favourite ceramic plates to the wall. I’ve realised that anything pretty much goes on the walls in my home to create galleries and focal points.
Anything goes
Another obsession of mine is vintage finds, especially French objects – like my chandelier in the living room. And I remember once going into a flea market and coming out with an oboe under my arm, which ended up having a plant growing out of it when I got home!
During the decorating process I realised I could be as creative as I wanted without having to consult anyone else. Rustic paint tins are great for holding my plants and old crates make fab wall shelves. I think it’s the attention to detail throughout my house that really makes it a home, and bit by bit the place started to live again – it’s finally become a happy, peaceful space that I absolutely love living in.
Find more clever ideas to style up your home by going to pinterest.com/ styleathomemag IN THE DETAIL
‘I love beautiful fabrics, beads, and decorative touches’
