F
or Leoma Harper, moving into a large detached period property five years ago proved to be a good decision. As well as giving her and her husband a lot more space for their money, it provided a bigger garden for their daughter, seven, and son, four. ‘With its period features and high ceilings, this double-fronted Victorian house ticked all the boxes on our wish list and we loved the peaceful location,’ says Leoma. But there was a lot of work to do – the house was grey and bland when the couple moved in. Some original features had been removed, other areas had been updated for the purpose of selling, and parts had not been touched at all. ‘We spent the initial four months putting back period features and revealing fireplaces that had been bricked up, as well as adding wooden flooring and new radiators,’ says Leoma. By introducing wall panelling in the hallway and drawing room, further character was reinstated. ‘We were very lucky to inherit a nice kitchen and bathrooms that only needed a lick of paint,’ says Leoma, an interior stylist and Instagram blogger @styletheclutter. ‘But the dated laundry room and cloakroom needed a complete overhaul.’ Opening up the wall between the orangery and playroom greatly enhanced the flow, too. Once the structural work was out of the way, Leoma was able to turn her hand to the decor. ‘My style is inspired by rustic French and contemporary Scandinavian design, but since starting my interiors business, styletheclutter.com, I’ve become a lot bolder with colour,’ she says. ‘I began with
KITCHEN The bars stools, peg rail and bench add natural accents to bring warmth to the scheme. Kitchen units in Slate II oil eggshell, £72 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library. Oak Shaker 15-hook coat rack, £70, Etsy. Antique wooden bench, £155, Home Barn, is similar. Wicker counter stools, £250 each, Cox & Cox