Home makeover: 'Our bungalow feels like a farmhouse'

Take a look inside this country-style family home filled with vintage accessories

Published: March 9, 2021 at 6:00 am

Sandra Venables transformed her tired-looking house into a stunning country-style family home filled with vintage touches and creative ideas.

Here, she tells us all about her home makeover...

My story

My husband, Dave, had to really convince me to buy this house as I was overwhelmed by how much work needed to be done.

The whole house needed renovating from top to bottom including installing new floors, electrics, boiler and plastering. However, I finally agreed it would be worth the effort.

The little white console table is new, but Sandra swapped the handles for antique-style pulls. ‘We call this my vintage corner because it’s where I‘ve put all my most treasured finds, such as the old lamp and little painting. Hanging up above is the macramé plant hanging I bought in London. It was very expensive at £80 but I love it’
The little white console table is new, but Sandra swapped the handles for antique-style pulls. ‘We call this my vintage corner because it’s where I‘ve put all my most treasured finds, such as the old lamp and little painting. Hanging up above is the macramé plant hanging I bought in London. It was very expensive at £80 but I love it’

Our original plan was to fix all the structural problems first and install bi-folding doors across the back.

When our builder, Bobby – who’s a friend of ours – saw the house, he persuaded us to take on an even bigger project.

Sandra had her heart set on a white Rangemaster, but she struggled to find the perfect design. ‘I didn’t want a stainless-steel cooker. It took ages to find this one and it cost a fortune, but it’s made such a difference to the overall look of our kitchen. Also, it’s the best cooker I’ve ever had, so it was worth it,’ she says
Sandra had her heart set on a white Rangemaster, but she struggled to find the perfect design. ‘I didn’t want a stainless-steel cooker. It took ages to find this one and it cost a fortune, but it’s made such a difference to the overall look of our kitchen. Also, it’s the best cooker I’ve ever had, so it was worth it,’ she says

He sketched out plans for a loft extension, walk-in wardrobes and a mezzanine area. It was his idea to make the kitchen renovation look like a barn conversion.

Welcome to my home...

A bit about me I’m Sandra Venables @behind_the_pink_door_with_mrsv and I’m a franchise expert. I live here with my husband, Dave, and our two dogs, Dolly and Barney.

Where I live We live in a 1930s three-bedroom detached bungalow on the Wirral. We’ve lived here for 18 months.

Sandra Venables

During the build we exposed a brick wall and the original beams. I loved the look, but they were in too poor a condition to keep, but as Bobby knew I loved the country cottage look, he put in a wooden A-frame and a slip-brick wall where our stove now stands.

On the pink wall leading to the master bedroom, Sandra has hung a mixture of new and vintage mirrors. ‘The little round ones were £3.99 for a set of three from The Range. They were brown and I sprayed them gold to match the others,’ says Sandra. She painted the wall in pink chalk paint so her mirror collection would really pop
On the pink wall leading to the master bedroom, Sandra has hung a mixture of new and vintage mirrors. She painted the wall in pink chalk paint so her mirror collection would really pop

I begged and borrowed to pay for the extra build, but we did all the decorating ourselves to save money.

The mural makes a great statement in this small bathroom, adding bold colour and pattern to this small space
The mural makes a great statement in this small bathroom, adding bold colour and pattern to this small space

I’m so pleased we pushed ourselves to take on a much bigger project than we first planned on. We never imagined we would live in a house like this.

A bit more about my home...

What I wanted to change Pretty much everything! The interior was very dated, so I wanted to bring it up to date, and the bungalow needed to be completely modernised from top to bottom.

How I made it my own We created an open-plan kitchen and living space, converted the attic, put in a mezzanine level and installed bi-fold doors overlooking the garden. I then decorated with lots of vintage finds and plenty of pink paint.

My favourite part The kitchen-living area with the high ceilings and cosy fireplace. It’s a very social space and is the heart of the home. I love sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee in the mornings and watching the little birds in our garden.

Sandra Venables

Kitchen

The couple inherited a tired- and dated-looking kitchen that they were keen to get rid of. ‘It had mismatched cupboards and a horrible stainless-steel sink,’ Sandra explains. ‘There was no other option but to rip it all out and start again.’

Pink polka dot curtains give the kitchen a cute cottagecore style. The spotty theme continues with the Emma Bridgewater radio
Pink polka dot curtains give the kitchen a cute cottagecore style. The spotty theme continues with the Emma Bridgewater radio

Wanting a country cottage look in the space, Sandra went for pale grey units with wooden worktops from Wickes, paired with a classic Belfast sink.

She originally painted the walls a dark grey to match the kitchen units, but it didn’t look how she’d imagined.

The large corner larder is home to the boiler as well as Sandra’s well-stocked pantry. ‘It lights up when
The large corner larder is home to the boiler as well as Sandra’s well-stocked pantry. ‘It lights up when you walk in – it’s like an Aladdin’s cave,’ she says

On a whim, she decided to repaint in Dusky Blush by Frenchic and she hasn’t looked back – even the legs of the £60 table bought on eBay have been painted in the same shade. Above the table is an old Victorian laundry pulley that Sandra now uses as a pan rack.

Living room

As the main cook in their family, Sandra loves this open-plan kitchen-living layout because it’s so social. ‘It means I can be cooking dinner and still chatting to people,’ she says.

‘I begged and borrowed to pay for the extra build and then we took on all the decorating ourselves to save money’ says Sandra
‘I begged and borrowed to pay for the extra build and then we took on all the decorating ourselves to save money’ says Sandra

‘Also, I love sitting on the sofa that looks out to the garden to watch the birds with our morning coffee – it feels like our very own nature programme!’

Sandra went for two matching gold velvet sofas from eBay for a bold pop of colour in her living room. ‘Friends think I’m brave for buying a sofa online that I never actually sat on, but I’m always lucky with my bargain online buys,’ she admits
Sandra went for two matching gold velvet sofas from eBay for a bold pop of colour in her living room. ‘Friends think I’m brave for buying a sofa online that I never actually sat on, but I’m always lucky with my bargain online buys,’ she admits

The couple wanted a log-burner stove but as they live in a smoke-free zone they went for this Dimplex Optimyst electric one instead.

The faux brick wall is home to Sandra’s electric stove. ‘I put in a fake flue at the top to make it look like a real wood-burning one. It makes this space so cosy’
The faux brick wall is home to Sandra’s electric stove. ‘I put in a fake flue at the top to make it look like a real wood-burning one. It makes this space so cosy’

‘It wasn’t cheap at £600 but it looks so real it was worth every penny,’ says Sandra. The Minton tiled hearth was made from reclaimed tiles Sandra found for £12 in a junk shop.

Master bedroom

As the master bedroom is in the mezzanine area it has slanted ceilings, instantly giving the space a cosy feel. The white walls create a sense of calm, but it’s not an intentional choice.

With white walls, the master bedroom has a calm feel to it, but
With white walls, the master bedroom has a calm feel to it, but Sandra couldn’t resist introducing some pops of pink to the space with blush-coloured pillows and throws

‘Eventually I will wallpaper the walls, but I’m still deciding what design to go for,’ says Sandra. The antique-style bed – that was a gift from a friend – has been cosied up with layers of vintage linens for a country-style look.

‘Looking at the end result, I’m so pleased we pushed ourselves. We never imagined we’d live in a house like this’ says Sandra
‘Looking at the end result, I’m so pleased we pushed ourselves. We never imagined we’d live in a house like this’ says Sandra

Sandra found the pair of pine bedside tables in a local charity shop and painted them in a duck-egg blue chalk paint to tie in with the rest of the scheme.

Spare bedroom

For a quick fix, Sandra painted the floorboards in the spare bedroom white, but she loved them so much she decided to keep them.

With fresh flowers and a hot pot of coffee, Sandra has the spare room ready and waiting for visitors
With fresh flowers and a hot pot of coffee, Sandra has the spare room ready and waiting for visitors

‘Family and friends love staying in this room – it’s got a coastal vibe to it, so they feel like they’re in a holiday home.’

Sandra spotted the Coach House dressing table in the window of a local shop, but it wasn’t for sale. Putting her research skills to the test, she eventually found one for sale elsewhere. The linen cupboard is lined with wallpaper to match the ottoman in her bedroom
Sandra spotted the Coach House dressing table in the window of a local shop, but it wasn’t for sale. Putting her research skills to the test, she eventually found one for sale elsewhere. The linen cupboard is lined with wallpaper to match the ottoman in her bedroom

She found the pompom cushions in the nursery collection at The Range and the artwork above the bed is from local homeware shop, Homebird Interiors.

What I learned...

When it comes to buying expensive items in the home, like sofas or chests of drawers, research online to find designer copies for a fraction of the price of the real deal. Before you buy, always check the reviews and dimensions.

Your renovation will go much quicker if you don’t live on-site during the building project. If you can, live somewhere separate but close enough that you can check in on what’s going on.

Don’t be dictated by the era of your home – you can have whatever you like design-wise.

Sandra Venables

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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