Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'

Sodia Hadassi-Amma has brought the charm back to her Victorian house, introducing elements inspired by her North African heritage

Published: July 28, 2020 at 5:00 am

Sodia and her husband Larbi looked at 22 houses in the search for their dream home. Sodia knew she wanted to live in Brockley because of its family-friendly nature, and loved the idea of living somewhere with lots of green spaces, independent shops and cafés.

The couple were searching for a Victorian house with high ceilings, period features and all the natural light you get with big windows. When they were 22 houses in, they came across a total fixer-upper for a good price, and bought it! Here, she recalls her home makeover experience....

Welcome to my home

A bit about me I’m Sodia and I have my own homeware brand, Beldi Maison. I live with my husband, Larbi, our two children, Zayd, eight, and Amani, six, and our cockapoo, Myla.

Where I live We live in a five-bedroom Victorian terrace in Brockley, south-east London. We’ve lived here since 2012.

Sodia Hadassi-Amma

My story...

We chose this home because it provided me with the perfect opportunity to put my own stamp on something. Outside, the house was covered in cobble-effect cladding so it had the opposite of kerb appeal.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
In the loft extension, Sodia has created a beautiful guest bedroom featuring a rug, throw and bespoke panels for the bedside cabinets, all sourced through Beldi Maison

Inside, it was panelled in bright orange pine, crazy patterned wallpaper and carpets, all in terrible condition. It had been owned by an elderly person who slept in the living room and had boxed a basic bathroom into a corner of the kitchen.

About my home

What I wanted to change Everything! We reconfigured the existing extension to create a larger kitchen and converted the loft to create two bedrooms and a bathroom.

How I made it my own A palette of muted neutrals with pops of colour and lots of bohemian pieces allowed me to put my stamp on the house.

My favourite part I love coming home to my Victorian-style path and pink front door.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'

We decided to start on the bedrooms, so our baby son had somewhere comfortable to sleep and play, before moving onto the bathroom and, finally, the kitchen.

As soon as we moved in, it was all systems go. We had to replace all the floorboards and when we removed the wallpaper the plaster came off with it, so we had to re-plaster.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
The fifth bedroom serves as a dressing room for Sodia, with an upcycled IKEA desk and a chair that Sodia found for free on a local forum and painted using leftover paint. On the gallery wall, the embroidered portrait is by @thestitchstylist via Instagram

It was hard living here and doing the work with a young child. The low point was when the builders were banging around in our bedroom and the ceiling collapsed. We stayed with friends when it got really bad. We tackled the loft two years ago.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
The pink front door with period stained glass provides a great focal point in the hallway area, which Sodia has adorned with pretty wall-mounted bird sculptures from Cox & Cox and a large mirror from Umbra

That all ran smoothly, apart from the scaffolders managing to put a foot through not one, but two bedroom ceilings – both over white linen bedding. Despite the setbacks, I love renovating and I’m getting a bit bored now there’s nothing left to do!

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
The dining area was a real DIY project, with Sodia painting the eBay-sourced furniture, upholstering the chairs and even building the benches herself, using legs found online. ‘Benches work well because you can always squeeze another person in,’ she says. The chandelier is from BHS, while the mirror is from Maisons du Monde

Kitchen

Although we didn’t extend the floor plan here, we removed a downstairs bathroom and boiler to make more space, as well as creating double doors onto the garden.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
Sodia opted for an IKEA kitchen but sourced the worktops on eBay to save money and used cup-style handles to personalise the look. A trio of pendant lights, also from IKEA, hung low over the island, help to enhance this important part of the kitchen

I wanted a modern take on the farmhouse look, mixing off-white cabinets with wooden worktops and white metro tiles. I used a grey grout to bring definition to the tiles – grey ages so much better than white grout.

I love my kitchen island. It’s great for cooking, eating, doing homework or crafting – family and friends seem to gather here naturally
Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
The kitchen mixes white, cream and warm woods for a calming, modern-rustic look. An island was top of Sodia’s wish list. ‘I’ve always thought that there’s something very special about a kitchen with an island,’ she says

I’d always wanted an island because they create a focal point in a kitchen. We use it for casual meals and the children play and do their homework here when I’m cooking. Whenever we entertain, people always seem to congregate here.

The kitchen mixes white, cream and warm woods for a calming, modern-rustic look. An island was top of Sodia’s wish list. ‘I’ve always thought that there’s something very special about a kitchen with an island,’ she says

Living Room

This room was clad in orange pine and the original fireplace had been replaced with a gas fire. When we stripped it back, the ceiling fell down, so we lost the coving and ceiling rose. We installed simple coving that echoes the neutral décor. I wanted to create a clean, white Scandi-style backdrop and change things up with colourful soft furnishings and interesting art and objects.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
‘The living room is a good size with lovely proportions, so we decided not to knock through into the dining room,’ say Sodia. She managed to get a bargain by buying two fireplaces together in one eBay lot. The Berber rug is from Beldi Maison

‘The living room is a good size with lovely proportions, so we decided not to knock through into the dining room,’ say Sodia. She managed to get a bargain by buying two fireplaces together in one eBay lot. The Berber rug is from Beldi Maison

Here I’ve gone for blush pink accents, my new favourite colour. I used a moody grey on the chimney-breast to break up the room and make a feature. To create a cohesive look, I’ve gone with a mostly monochrome colour palette but added interest through lots of texture and some 3D elements, like the macramé plant hanger. My favourite feature in this room is my gallery wall; it started with one Andy Warhol print and developed around that.

Expert advice

How to convert a loft space

Make the most of your extra space with these tips...

Visit the site often as the work progresses so you can envisage the space and make sure it’s making the most of your plans. With an L-shaped dormer extension, Sodia has created two bedrooms and a bathroom.

While extra bedrooms add value, not every family needs them, so consider other uses for your new space; a home office, dressing room, studio or den. Include a stylish sofa bed for maximum versatility.

Look for every opportunity to introduce light, such as adding additional windows to light the stairwell and, if opting for double doors onto a Juliet balcony, consider additional glass side panels.

Lofts can look plain in a period house, so consider installing detailing such as coving or a faux fireplace complete with chimneybreast to create a cohesive look.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
In Amani’s bedroom Sodia has combined blush pink with crisp grey and white to create a soft and magical atmosphere. The canopy is from Molly Meg, while the pink pouffe is from Beldi Maison and the throw is from Matalan

Master Bedroom

I went for a romantic look here, with lots of French Rococo pieces and a crystal chandelier. Originally, we went for a wool carpet but it attracted moths, so we replaced it with an oak-effect laminate for a warm, neutral look. The walls are painted in a soft grey shade to create a calming atmosphere and contrast with the white-painted furniture.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
In the master bedroom, the romantic French-style furniture was all sourced on eBay while the TK Maxx rug introduces a graphic element. Sodia was delighted to rediscover the fireplace, which had been boarded up for decades. She created hearths for all the fireplaces using tiles from Topps Tiles

In the master bedroom, the romantic French-style furniture was all sourced on eBay while the TK Maxx rug introduces a graphic element. Sodia was delighted to rediscover the fireplace, which had been boarded up for decades. She created hearths for all the fireplaces using tiles from Topps Tiles

I’ve given the room some modern elements with simple white curtains, a graphic rug and touches of blush pink. I like to pile the bed with textured cushions and throws for cosy bedtimes. Pretty, feminine, hand-crafted accessories complete the look.

Bathroom

This is such a small room, so I spent a lot of time scouring websites for the absolute smallest toilet, basin and bath to maximise the space. I wanted a period feel, so I used a roll-top bath with tongue-and-groove wall panelling in white and grey-painted walls above.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
Sodia carefully sourced the smallest period-look pieces for the compact family bathroom, including a basin from Victoria Plum and a roll-top bath. The travertine tiles on the floor are from Topps Tiles

Sodia carefully sourced the smallest period-look pieces for the compact family bathroom, including a basin from Victoria Plum and a roll-top bath. The travertine tiles on the floor are from Topps Tiles

I chose crisp white accessories for a fresh look that’s balanced by the natural elements – from the travertine stone tiled floor to woven grass baskets and a reclaimed scaffold board as a bath bridge. A high shelf provides useful storage, as do the simple baskets which I have decorated with pompoms which I made myself.

Zayd's Bedroom

‘Our son’s room nods to Africa because of his part-Moroccan heritage and his love of animals, as seen in the bedding and decorative objects, like the zebra head and elephant light. Overall, it’s got a subtle but fun jungle-explorer vibe.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
Sodia wanted to create an African wildlife theme and used H&M bed linen and a leaf garland from Rosie and the Boys. An IKEA mid-sleeper bed provides extra space for friends staying over

Sodia wanted to create an African wildlife theme and used H&M bed linen and a leaf garland from Rosie and the Boys. An IKEA mid-sleeper bed provides extra space for friends staying over

Between fitted wardrobes, I’ve created a desk and shelving area using recycled scaffolding boards and simple black brackets.’

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
In Zayd’s bedroom, Sodia repurposed old scaffolding boards from Rugged London to create the shelving and desk area. The stool is from IKEA, while the rug is from B&Q and the Berber basket is from Beldi Maison

In Zayd’s bedroom, Sodia repurposed old scaffolding boards from Rugged London to create the shelving and desk area. The stool is from IKEA, while the rug is from B&Q and the Berber basket is from Beldi Maison

What I learned...

When you’re viewing a property, don’t be put off by the condition or dodgy décor – they might help you to bag a bargain. Instead, pay attention to the structure, proportions and layout.

Save money on furniture by upcycling second-hand pieces, including street finds, Gumtree giveaways and eBay bargains. Use leftover paint to keep the costs down further. Search the internet for hacks to turn IKEA’s affordable, functional furniture into something more bespoke.

Add kerb appeal to period homes by reinstating a traditional tiled path. I opted for Topps Tiles’ Victorian-style chequered mosaic tiles, which come on a mesh so are easier and quicker to lay. They are also anti-slip, which is an added bonus with our British weather.

Home makeover: 'I've updated my period home'
Sodia Hadassi-Amma

This is a digital version of a feature that originally appeared in Home Style magazine. For more inspirational home ideas, why not subscribe today?

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