I’ve always loved the idea of creating a little world of your own at home - somewhere full of colour, character and things that make you happy. A place to be calm, but also creative.
Our house is tucked away at the end of a quiet lane in Leytonstone, East London. We have allotments on two sides and gardens all around us, so although we’re very much in London, it can sometimes feel wonderfully far away from it all.
My partner Jon and I found the house in 2013, when we were looking for more space for our growing family. The estate agent’s photographs weren’t exactly enticing - and the house needed a lot of work - but as soon as we saw it, we fell for the setting and its slightly unusual character. It felt like a hidden little pocket of countryside in the city, and we could immediately see its potential.
Over the years, we’ve gradually made it our own. Some of that was rather less glamorous than choosing paint colours: we replaced the roof, added another floor above the kitchen and opened up the house with large windows and lots of glazing. Natural light was really important to us, and now it moves through the house throughout the day, changing the colours and atmosphere as it goes.
And, of course, there is quite a lot of colour.
I’ve used soft custard yellows, creamy pinks, muted greens and gentle blues throughout the house. I love colour, but I don’t necessarily want it to shout at me all the time. These softer shades feel warm and uplifting, and create a calm backdrop for all the objects, artwork, textiles and slightly odd things we’ve collected over the years.
I also love that so much of the house has been made by hand. I’ve painted doors and murals, while Jon has made beautiful wooden details throughout, including door frames, staircases and our colourful inlaid kitchen. Having things that bear the marks of the person who made them gives the house a soul that something perfectly finished can sometimes lack.
What I’ve really tried to create here is a little oasis of countryside, animals, greenery and quiet. I grew up on a farm in north-east Scotland, and although my life is now firmly rooted in London, I think I’m always trying to bring a little bit of that landscape and feeling of home with me.
There’s also something about this house that takes me back to where I first started making things. Growing up, my attic bedroom doubled as my art studio. I painted the walls, made candles and was constantly experimenting with something or other. Looking around our house now - at the murals, handmade furniture, colours and objects - I realise I haven’t really changed that much.
For me, a home shouldn’t feel too perfect or too finished. It should be somewhere you can experiment, change your mind, make things and surround yourself with colours and objects that bring you joy.
Our house has evolved slowly over more than a decade, alongside our family and our lives. It’s still evolving now - which is probably just as well, because I’m not sure I’d know what to do with a house that was actually finished.
It’s colourful, handmade and a little unexpected. And, most importantly, it feels like us.
Photo credit: Gareth Hacker