under £50

‘The 1950s coffee table was £70 from a vintage fair in Liverpool,’ says Leila. ‘When we got home we googled it and discovered it’s a designer piece that can sell for £350 to £450.’

Rug, Ebay. Leather sofa, Made. Ceiling light, Wayfair. Floor lamp, Swoon

‘We were going to add a picture rail and paint it white above, but Joe wanted to go dark right up to the coving,’ says Leila. ‘I’m so pleased we did in the end as it feels really cocooning.’

Smoked glass ball lamp, Ikea. Tall vases, Facebook Marketplace. Round mirror, Select Mirrors

Left The gallery of black and white photos, taken on Leila and Joe’s travels, was inspired by one of the homes they viewed and creates a real talking point. The lighting took careful consideration. ‘I wanted something contemporary but big enough to make a statement, and to look like a piece of art when it’s not switched on,’ says Leila.

Dining table, Swoon. Dining chairs, Amazon. Ceiling light, Made. Rug, Ebay

Right ‘When we walked in and saw the original tiled flooring, that was the clincher for us,’ says Leila. ‘Adding a striped runner and painting the staircase and Anaglypta wallpaper black has enhanced the flow of the house. Everything ties together now.’

Stairs painted in Rebel (custom mix with added black pigment), Crown Paints. Large art print, handmade

MOVED IN

SEPTEMBER 2017

BUILDING WORK BEGAN

NOVEMBER 2017

KITCHEN FITTED

JANUARY 2018

LIVING AND DINING ROOM KNOCKED THROUGH

SEPTEMBER 2018

Project timeline

STRIPPED HOUSE

OCTOBER 2017

BI-FOLD DOORS FITTED

DECEMBER 2017

KITCHEN FLOOR LAID

FEBRUARY 2018

Amelia's top tip

Choosing a neutral colour for your bedroom walls means you can easily switch up your interior scheme to suit the changing seasons. Bedding instantly transforms a room, and I love how this soft orange duvet cover and olive green cushions creates a warning and cosy autumnal feel. Crisp white or pastel pink bedding would add a fresh feel to the room for the summer months.

After three years with pale grey walls, the success of the dark living room encouraged Leila and Joe to go dark in their bedroom, too. ‘We call it the “womb room” as it’s so cocooning and relaxing,’ says Leila. ‘We’ve kept the area above the bed bare, so the alcoves are the points of focus.’

Walls painted in Forever and Ever, Coat Paints. Bed, Crazy Price Beds. Orange duvet cover, La Redoute. Grey throw, Ikea

After taking an Abigail Ahern interiors course, Leila felt more confident curating a display. ‘She talked about creating vignettes, using stacked books and grouping items at different heights in sets of three,’ she explains. ‘As the gold murals have a Japanese feel, I also wanted an oriental thread running through the artwork with flecks of gold and pretty colours.’

Vase, Dunelm, Amber glass candlesticks, vintage. Figurine of woman, Abigail Ahern

COSTS & CONTACTS

Building work £6,000 Kitchen units and installation £5,000 Bathroom and installation £4,253 Decorating £2,000 Bi-fold doors £1,686 Kitchen floor £1,535

Kitchen Wren Kitchens, 0333 555 2009, wrenkitchens.com Bathroom fitting Pro Plumb, 07941 493966, proplumbnelincs.co.uk Bathroom sanitaryware, The Bathroom Village, 01472 340400, thebathroomvillage.co.uk

Below The fireplace and hearth in the guest bedroom used to be hidden under boards and carpet.

Wardrobes, vintage. Wall painted in Sea Turtle, the fireplace in Huckleberry, both Valspar Right ‘I initially painted the spare bedroom in white with a baby pink ceiling and mustard yellow woodwork,’ says Leila. ‘However, it started to feel like a nursery. We added a picture rail and I painted a wall and the ceiling in green with an accent wallpaper opposite. The pink is in the accessories now.’

Drawers, vintage. Sofa bed, Made. ‘Go Your Own Way’ paper, Lust. Rug, French Connection

Right Leila and Joe toyed with the idea of going more traditional to match the era of the house, but were drawn to contemporary styles. ‘After considering a vibrant cobalt blue, the pink walls were a bit of a wild card,’ says Leila. ‘They contrast really well against the black hardware and marble vanity top.’

Walls painted in Hearts Affire, Valspar. Vanity unit, basin and tap, all Lusso Stone. Mirror, Bathroom Mountain. Framed illustration, Etsy