When Beverley and Pete Graham moved into their three-bedroom, Edwardian semi-detached home in Essex, it was seriously in need of renovation.
However, as their first priority was updating the kitchen, bathroom, and a bedroom for their daughter, Holly, they had no option but to sleep surrounded by dated décor and a grubby carpet. ‘The room was also dominated by a large and very ugly fire. As soon as the first phase of works was complete, I was keen to get started on creating our very own relaxing haven,’ recalls Beverley.
While Beverley wanted the new-look bedroom to reflect its historical roots, with period-inspired touches, she was also adamant that it should embrace her love of eclectic style and colour. ‘I’m a huge fan of wallpaper, but before I could even consider getting Pete to agree to a possible pattern, we had to address the issue of the fire,’ says Beverley.
In the end, the couple wisely brought in the professionals, and with the fire gone and chimney breast made good, they were finally able to strip the walls, remove the old carpet and install two new efficient radiators sourced online.
As the bedroom already benefitted from a built-in wardrobe, Beverley opted to work with some of her existing vintage furniture pieces.
‘The dressing table and drawer sets were originally bought in Deptford Market, for our very first home – and while they had been destined for the spare room, I think they add real character to this scheme,’ she smiles. Although, she agrees it’s the gorgeous teal headboard, inherited from a friend who was downsizing and re-upholstered in lush velvet, that’s the real wow-factor piece in the room.
A console and stool were again borrowed from other rooms, but it was a trip to the high street that resulted in the glamorous velvet bench and vibrant chair.
‘I couldn’t believe my luck when I spotted a bench with the same detailing as my headboard and, while the chair was a bit of a gamble, I love the resulting, informal mix,’ says Beverley.
When it came to those all-important finishing touches, Beverley readily admits her top finds have to be the chandelier and wall lamps, bought online for under £195.
‘Not bad for four cut-glass lights!’ she says. The addition of made-to-measure Roman blinds layered with homemade silver curtains adds grown-up glamour at the windows.
Yet more high-street finds, including bed linen, cushions, and a large pink lampshade for a green glass base left by the previous owner, complete the look.
Beverley is pleased to report that her redecorated bedroom is everything she envisaged: ‘a sophisticated retreat that we both now can’t wait to retire to at the end of the day.’
Shopping list
Walls and mouldings in Aquamarine Pale absolute emulsion, from £47 per 2.5l, and intelligent eggshell, £32 per litre, Little Greene. Hummingbirds wallpaper, £115 per roll, Cole and Son. Decorative pine moulding, from £4.35 per 2.4m, B&Q. Soft Focus 100% Finesse polypropylene carpet, in Ice Crystal, from £20 per sq m, Cormar Carpets. Curtains in Lustre 1 Laminar fabric, £45 per m, Harlequin. Ashton extendable curtain poles, from £35, Dunelm. Made to measure Felicity True White Roman blinds with blackout lining, from £30.63, Blinds 2go. Headboard upholstered in Trentino Fir extra wide fabric, £62 per m, Designers Guild. White two-column vertical radiators, £179.95 each, Best Heating. Pink velvet bench, £129.99; patterned chair, £129.99; pink cushions, £5.99 each, all TK Maxx. Grey silk bedspread, £280; print cushions, £50 each; pink drum shade, £50, all John Lewis & Partners. Lyndon 4-light crystal chandelier, £89.99, Wayfair. Leila wall lights, £35 each, Next. Silver diamante cushion, £12, Sainsbury’s Home. For similar lamps, try House Ruby nickel lamps, £35 per pair, John Lewis & Partners. For a similar stool, try Bullet stool, £49.99, Atlantic Shopping.
This is a digital version of a feature that originally appeared in Your Home magazine. For more inspirational home ideas, why not subscribe today?