PHOTO COASTERS

PERIOD PIECES ‘The 1930s doors and picture rails are elegant features I was keen to preserve. I painted the walls in Warm Pewter by Dulux’

Buy it Shop Emma’s vintage bright style PAGE 40

Tim and I moved house for a bigger garden and to be closer to the sea,’ says Emma. ‘We had our hearts set on Ballyholme, as it’s a lovely area with a good school and many of our friends live here. We were previously living in a new-build, three-bed terrace, but we desperately wanted an older property with period features that we could put our own stamp on.

Introducing colour The first thing I did when we moved in was to paint all the walls in the house light blue. I think I was a little bit overexcited about having moved to the seaside and wanted to reflect this in the decor! But unfortunately, such a pale shade meant the walls got grubby really quickly, and the blue made the house feel a little cold. I decided we needed to go for something a bit darker and warmer, so I set about finding some new shades that would better suit the house. I ended up choosing a spectrum of warm greys to use in every room, as these shades provide a great neutral backdrop for me to add pops of colour to. I wanted to give our home a cohesive feel with a sense of continuity throughout, and then bring plenty of interest with colourful accents from plants and fun additions like bunting and pom-poms. One day I started hanging colourful, framed prints and I’ve basically never stopped! My gallery walls now have a starring role on my Instagram feed @flawsomehome

house were cosmetic and there was nothing major or structural that needed doing. The kitchen was a little dated, so we gave it a refresh with new cabinetry from Ikea for a quick and budget-friendly fix, and we gave the bathroom a facelift, too. We were on a very tight budget, so we decided to do most of the work ourselves to keep costs down. It was hard work, but that’s not something I regret; in fact I’m convinced that restricting yourself to stay within budget forces you to really do your homework and take your time to get things right.

Industrial approach I painted the kitchen walls in a mid/dark grey called Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball, to match the gunmetal grey cabinetry from Ikea. Then I added white subway tiles with a charcoal grout for an industrial look. A gorgeous patterned rug with lots of warm colour really helps to soften those darker elements I chose for the kitchen. I love the blackboard wall, too. It’s great for jotting down shopping lists and family reminders; the kids sometimes draw on it as well, which is fun. I’ve fitted a chunky scaffolding

‘Mix and match frames to give even more variety to a gallery wall.’ STYLE AT HOME SAYSÉ

features editor

Holly Walsh

WAX LYRICAL ‘Candles in bright shades are an easy and affordable way to introduce colour and interest to a room’

FLUFFY STUFF Pom-pom garland, £32, Bohemia Design

NEON VIBE Hibiscus cotton velvet cushion, £25, John Lewis & Partners

shelf from Barrel & Bird high up on the blackboard wall, which adds to the modern/rustic vibe and makes for something a bit unique to put hanging plants, framed pictures and interesting bits and bobs on. I like to use a mix of fake and fresh plants as they work really well indoors –you can switch real in for fake for an instant refresh.

Adding unique style I’m a keen upcycler, and love to update junk shop finds, partly in a bid to save money, and partly to avoid the trap of buying everything from Ikea. Our last home was a new-build, filled with identikit furniture, and I felt this house would benefit from a different approach by including the occasional unique piece here and there. I realise that some of my favourite pieces are a bit eclectic, but I don’t think interior design should always be completely serious; I like to have fun! I’m inspired by interiors I see online and in magazines, and I'm not scared of changing things up every now and then, but I don’t follow trends; I like to have

WRITE ON ‘A blackboard wall is great for shopping lists and family reminders’

URBAN EDGE ‘The gunmetal grey cabinetry is from Ikea and I added subway tiles with a charcoal grout for a modern look’

1Gather four pieces of wood, such as floor boards or pieces of a pallet. Give them a light sand to remove any splinters or rough edges, then paint, varnish or leave natural, depending on the finish you want. 2 Once dry, arrange them in an open frame formation and secure with No More Nails or with long wood screws (screw from the back if you don’t want the head to show). Depending on the size and weight of your frame, attach one or two hangers to the back of the top piece of the frame. 3 Work out how many rows of photos you can fit into your frame, allowing space above and below. Then measure the height of the frame and divide the rows, marking 1-2cm in from the frame edge, ensuring they are level on either side. Screw eyelets into the spot you have marked. 4 Measure up your string or wire across the frame, and tie onto the eyelets. Arrange the photos across the string, using small pegs or washi tape to attach them.

DRIFT AWAY ‘Family photos are fixed with pegs to string, across a driftwood frame that Tim made’

‘The kitchen is a fun and welcoming space. A mix of vintage and modern pieces gives it an eclectic, lived-in vibe and the dark tones feel cocooning.’ STYLE AT HOME SAYSÉ

TRASH TO TREASURE ‘Anything can be upcycled. I love finding bargains and painting them and changing the handles, like I did with this chest of drawers’

‘ IF STYLE AT HOME SAYSÉ

‘Emma has continued the strong grey walls upstairs, and has broken them up by painting the picture rail crisp white to provide a contrast and draw the eye upwards.’

senior features editor Stephanie Durrant

1Work out the highest point of the mural. Using a long straight edge, draw the first mountain shape in pencil. Once you are happy, arrange and draw out the mountain peaks either side of the tallest. 2 Position thin decorator’s tape along the outline. Don’t forget to mask off any skirting to protect that from paint, too. 3 Paint within the tape, using a contrasting colour. Repeat with a second coat if needed. Once fully dry, remove the tape that masks off the mountain peak. 4 Then choose an alternative colour to paint the peak – you can do this free-hand with a fine brush, or mask off with tape and paint as before. 5 When the paint is dry remove all the tape. Use a fine paintbrush to touch up any smudges.

TOP MARKS ‘The mountain scene was created with Frog tape and Inchyra Blue paint by Farrow & Ball’

my own style. I am quite lucky that although Tim and I discuss everything first, he trusts me implicitly, and leaves most decorating decisions to me, so I’ve got the freedom to do whatever I want.

AND SO TO BED ‘The hanging Ikea wall lights free up space on the bedside table’

Online inspiration Instagram is such a great community. It has really helped boost my confidence when it comes to my interior style, and I think it’s a good opportunity for self-expression. I don’t use it to show off my home, but as a way to meet and be inspired by other design lovers.

A friend said to me recently that the braver you are with your decor, the braver you are with life, and I love that idea. It doesn’t mean your interior has to be bold and colourful – super pared down and minimal or pale and interesting are equally beautiful. The important thing is to take your own style as far as you can.

BLUSH TONES ‘Soft pink curtains and a matching throw make a nice contrast to the furniture, which is painted in Paris Grey chalk paint by Annie Sloan’

REAL DEAL ‘I like to mix up living and fake plants to get the best look’

FEATURE ALISON GIBB, MICHELA COLLING PHOTOGRAPHS DOUGLAS GIBB

HALF MEASURE ‘I painted the wall halfway up for a slightly institutional look. The boys joke and call this room “prison cell chic”!’

young children. I am not sure this is entirely true all the time, but I do like to tidy up at the end of the day, and it’s something I find quite therapeutic. To help keep on top of the clutter, I’ve made an effort to come up with unique and inventive storage solutions. It’s important to me that my home feels welcoming to everyone, and for me, keeping it tidy is very much part of that.

Perfecting the look For a couple of years I moved things around a lot, buying and upcycling junk shop finds and bargains that I’d found on eBay. I have calmed down now and I am happy to say things have fallen into place at last. My next project is to shift my focus to the garden and I reckon that will keep me going for a while –we are going to transform a large shed into a summerhouse. I am hoping it will become a fun social area.

FIREFLY HOME For beautifully crafted cushions in gorgeous colours and on-trend patterns.

WHAT PHIL SEES A creative studio run by Phil Christer. Phil’s love of graphic design and typography come together to create a studio which focuses on producing limited-edition wall art.

THE RANGE An Aladdin’s cave full of quirky knick-knacks and treasures at bargain prices, that can be cleverly upcycled.

HOUSEOLOGY Amazing designer choices that are perfect for the occasional dazzling accent, in an otherwise budget interior scheme.

SPLASH OUT ‘The Moroccan-style floor tiles, from Tiles Direct, were an extravagance in an otherwise very budget renovation’

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£6.95 for five sheets Frame giftwrap as alternative art. Vintage world map wrapping paper, REX LONDON

£14 Just add your favourite real or artificial plants. Yellow planter, SAINSBURY’S HOME

HOT POT

Emma has chosen a neutral palette for the walls and floors in her Thirties property, which is the perfect backdrop for a vibrant gallery wall. Feature walls are a great way to add colour and personality and can be easily changed up when the mood takes you.

A regal blue velvet sofa and popping yellow armchair team harmoniously with more muted upcycled finds in grey and a faded blue Persian rug. Emma has added further eclectic touches by spray-painting collected accessories in bright shades.

£22 Bounce light with a vintage-style mirror. Gilmore octagonal mirror, ARTISANTI

NATURAL RUSH

from £15 Add bright and whimsical wall art. OK OK art print in Mustard and Pink, LOVE FRANKIE

£2 Prettify a mirror or a fireplace. Honeycomb ball garland, WILKO

£35 Pile a sofa high with jewel-toned pillows. Petunia cushion cover, SWEETPEA & WILLOW

£280 Add grandeur with statement lighting. Emily chandelier, BHS

£22 Go big on faux greenery. Monstera plant on footed pot, SAINSBURY’S HOME

£1,599 Invest in a timeless style in an opulent shade. Raffles four-seater sofa in Royal classic velvet, DFS

£262 Store your favourite tipples on a vintagestyle bar cart. Gold drinks trolley, AUDENZA

£159 Fake the look of an antique find. Yolanda faded Persian jacquard rug, MADE

£25 Introduce pops of colour with an eccentric objet. Almira yellow flocked bust, AUDENZA