An interior designer has revealed how she transformed a clients five very outdated rooms, including the living room and kitchen, with pops of colour and geometric patterned wallpaper - and it cost just over £3,000.
Claire Bromley, from London, who has recently launched her own interior designs business, called Claire Alexandra Designs, and shares her transformations on her Instagram, reveals how she updated the house in Petts Wood, Bromley.
The living room was brought up to date with calm blues, greys and copper tones, along with contemporary geometric patterns.
While the kitchen was totally revamped and made into an open kitchen and dining area, with modern fittings - while Claire's touches included botanical inspired wallpaper and pops of colour.
The whole redesign of the house, including building work, cost the family £30,000, but Claire admits that her costs came to £3,500 - as she works with high street and independent suppliers. Here she reveals how she bought the house to life.
Before the redesign the living room had a gold plated fireplace which looked outdated next to the cream walls, with a green block design, while gold and white light shades weren't letting any real light come in.
Claire's redesign bought calm blues, greys and copper tones to the living area, while blinds allowed the light in and geometric patterns on the book case has given it some character.
The interior design went on to say about the transformation of the living area: 'An old wooden IKEA bookcase and TV cabinet were painted a modern grey and a contemporary geometric wallpaper was added to the bookcase to add pattern and warmth to the room.
'A thick geometric rug in similar colours ties in with the bookcase and adds warmth to the space. The fireplace was dressed with copper, blue and white accessories, and a large copper framed mirror increases the feeling of space in the room.
'The empty fireplace was filled with books to create a fun and colourful focal point.'
While the kitchen was totally transformed from a dark and dingy space, with oak fittings and diamond style flooring to a large open plan kitchen with botanical touches.
'The kitchen, dining room and utility were three small separate rooms and my clients wanted an airy, open, sociable space that would be suitable for entertaining guests.
'The space was transformed into one large open plan kitchen and diner. I designed a space which was contemporary and elegant, with energy and personality, created through a green and gold scheme, with subtle botanical touches.'
Claire, who's services start at just £50, says that her objective with her business, is to overturn the perception that interior design is just for the rich and famous.
'I offer an accessible and affordable approach and work with high street and independent suppliers to create beautiful, luxurious spaces within all budgets.
'My services start at £50 for a room e-design - clients can simply send me a photo or two of their room and I will create a mood board of ideas and a shopping list of items for them to go out and purchase in order to transform the space.'
Talking further about how she transformed the spaces she said: 'We had the kitchen windows painted dark grey (I chose Downpipe from Farrow and Ball) and the doors all painted a fresh, modern white - they were all previously a dark brown.
'An engineered wood flooring with a hint of grey was chosen throughout the kitchen and dining space and a grey carpet warmed up the living room.'
While pale grey walls in Farrow and Ball's Dimpse, a cool and delicate grey, http://www.aleeshainstitute.com/interior-designing-course.php were painted in the kitchen area, and a fresh pale blue in the living room - which makes the space feel airy and light.
While it wasn't just the kitchen and living area she changed - she also had one of the bedrooms transformed into a study with sophisticated deep blues and luxury gold tones, while the master bedroom was redecorated too. And the conservatory was redecorated to brighten and modernise the space, with a botanical theme.
'The master bedroom was redecorated with a damask patterned wallpaper in elegant grey, with pops of colourful teals to create a serene, refined feel.
'I chose to create a botanical themed conservatory to give a fresh, modern feel in there, bringing the outside in. I picked a beautiful Designers Guild wallpaper in a green and grey leafy pattern which brightened and warmed up the space.
