HOME + GARDEN

our design every step of the way, so were delighted with the final result. We could not have achieved this without the wonderful team from Victor Construction and Development Ltd. The building works took about three months to complete, all together it was probably about one year from initial design to a completed home.

Were there any project pitfalls? With all renovations you expect to have a few issues, though luckily there wasn’ t anything major. Thankfully, with an excellent trade team in place, nothing was too much of a problem for them.

How did you strike the balance between an excellent design-led refurb which also kept to budget? I always find with a family refurb with young children, it has to be practical and beautiful. We managed to get the kitchen of dreams by using Magnet to keep the costs down, customising with quality handles, beautiful lighting, stunning wallpapers and a killer colour palette throughout. In the snug we kept to budget by using a favourite sofa of mine from IKEA. It’ s a three-metre long deep modular sofa which is really comfy, as well as having the fantastic feature of machine washable covers. All I had to do was change the feet to give it a bespoke feel. We splurged on the cooker, as well as bespoke joinery for many of the doors. It’ s all about prioritising what needs to be on the splurge list versus the save list.

Where do you start with interior styling for a home that you won’ t be living in? By listening to the clients needs and recognising how they want to use the space. It has to be practical but beautiful.

Blue Stripe Ceramic Milk Jug, £ 15, Joanna Wood

Boston Curved Arm Chaise Sofa- Moroccan Spice Smart Velvet, £ 3,190, Sofa. com

Wollaton Wall Light, £ 50, dar lighting group

Transylvanian Manor Ottoman Tufted Bench,

£ 1,120, Mind The Gap

What were the common mistakes that you managed to avoid? Throughout the space the lighting has been designed to have several configurations. This was important in the kitchen / dining room, as it needed to be a social space as well as a dedicated food prep area etc. Also making sure there was plenty of storage for absolutely everything, making it easier for the family to clean and tidy, even with a million toys!

Did the property require any bespoke elements? We needed a bespoke coat cupboard and pull out shoe racks in the hall so everything had a space. No more chaos in the hall every morning before school! Bookcases, cupboards, you name it and our trades team built it. I always feel this is budget well spent as it fits the space perfectly, instead of compromising with an off the shelf piece of furniture.

What are you most proud of? How happy the family were to finally be able to use all of the rooms in the way they had dreamed of. The end result surpassed anything they had envisioned- for me it doesn’ t get much better than that. I particularly loved the mirror splash back that reaches the expanse of the kitchen counter. It adds that bit of glam and light to the middle of the room. The client was hesitant but I convinced them it would be beautiful. Thankfully they love it too!

Deco Round Fluted Pendant, £ 150, Cox & Cox

Evie Linen Butterscotch Scalloped Square Cushion, £ 30.99, daals

Rangemaster Aquaclassic Two Monobloc Kitchen Mixer Tap, £ 269.99, Tap Warehouse

Spartan Four Column Green 01 Radiator, £ 291, The Radiator Centre

Estel Deluxe 110cm Dual Fuel Range Cooker, £ 3,499, Rangemaster