HOME TOUR: Vanessa's Colourful & Quirky Home Will Make You Smile
When arriving at Vanessa's home, I was met by a tidy grey and white exterior, so on entering the flat, I was totally unprepared for the wonderful explosion of colour inside. Vanessa has used colour in such clever ways in her home – blues dominate, but are peppered with bursts of pink, red and yellow, while pale floors and large windows keep things light and bright.
A bright "Hello' and original Victorian tiles greet you in the entrance hall where an internal dark-framed window gives a little sneak peek of the vibrant home.
Vanessa is an actress, photographer and painter and she lives here with her actor husband and their young daughter. They bought the run-down flat in late 2015 hoping to completely renovate it and move in within a couple of months, but as with most projects, it over-ran and they ended up moving in a few months later than planned in early 2016.
The colourful Living room. Vanessa matched Dulux paint colours to the more expensive varieties.
Not only does Vanessa's creativity shine through in her quirky modern interior, but she also had to be very creative with the budget. With some clever tricks she was able to achieve the look she wanted for a lot less money. For example, many items, such as the glass doors, were purchased and driven down from Manchester (where Vanessa visits family regularly), and where building materials are generally cheaper than in London. Other smart tricks include using Ikea cabinets paired with bespoke cabinet doors painted in Farrow & Ball's Stiffkey Blue and mixing high/low with a few vintage and DIY pieces to achieve a unique and personal interior.
Vintage cinema chairs mix well with the whitewashed wooden floors and the newer pieces.
A gloss black piano and a gallery wall in more subdued colours balance out the brighter ones.
A fabulously styled selection of art, objects, plants and lighting brighten up what would otherwise be a blank, unused area next to the door.
The 'Azure' velvet sofa by Loaf makes a bold statement and is flanked by the 'red bird' posters which were bought for £5 each and framed by Vanessa.
The small dining area is cleverly tucked next to the Kitchen. An Ikea shelf is used on its' side and topped with padding for compact seating.
The bespoke cabinet doors and open shelving above are painted in Farrow & Ball's Stiffkey Blue.
Copper accents stand out against the white tiled background
The Double doors bring loads of light into the space.
Cheeky artwork and Scion 'Mr Fox' bedding add a sense of fun in the master bedroom.
I really wanted to show you inside this fun home because it demonstrates so well how you can start with the clean modern basics (that I'm always going on and on about!) like good storage and hard flooring, and totally add your own style. Unique, quirky touches – taxidermy and Vanessa's interesting artworks – really give this interior personality.
