After years of renting, we’ve finally bought our first home in West London—a moment that feels like such an achievement. Now, I’ll be honest: it’s not the dream home I’ve always envisioned in my mind. I have this idealised picture of what my perfect house would look like—probably something on a tree-lined street with period features, oversized windows, a sun-filled south facing garden and endless charm. But when you’ve got a budget, practicality and potential takes priority. Don’t get me wrong, this house is wonderful for us right now. It’s spacious, convenient, and in a lovely neighbourhood with great people around us. It doesn’t tick every box, but it’s a place we can call our own, and that makes it perfect for this stage of our lives.
What’s made it even more special is for the first time my kids got to choose their own paint colours and room themes, which made it feel like a true family project from the start. I’ve also added so many personal touches, from custom paneling in the hallways and living space to bold design choices that reflects my style. I can’t wait to share all the details of how we turned this blank canvas into a home, so keep on reading to find out everything I used during the renovation from paint colours and tiles, to door handles and light switches, plus some before and after pictures at the end!
Finding the Right Builders
Choosing the right builders can be daunting, but luckily, my friend Katie recommended the team who had installed her wardrobes, and it turned out they handled entire home renovations. After meeting them and interviewing three other companies, I knew they were the ones for the job. Kris and Greg work as a team—Greg handles the creative side, offering beautifully designed graphic mock-ups to show how the space will look, while Kris and his building team tackle the renovations with precision and efficiency.
Their ability to combine creativity and craftsmanship made the whole process so much easier. And they turned the house around in just four weeks—a huge feat considering everything we had done!
They also custom-built my coat and shoe cupboard in the hallway – I love having everything tucked away to keep clutter to a minimum. It was a slightly tricky space to work with, as I didn’t want to block the light from the side window. I designed it myself with an L-shape, combining fluted texture on the drawers and smooth doors for added contrast and detail.
Bedroom Wardrobes by Wardrobe Village
For the wardrobes in the bedrooms, my friend Clare recommended Sacha and his team at Wardrobe Village, a separate company from my main builders, specialising in wardrobes. His team did a brilliant job, offering an affordable alternative to solid wood that still looks high-end and sturdy. Sacha uses Egger materials, and I highly recommend going for their highest-quality range (codes starting with PM) for the best finish (the cheaper option didn’t look good at all so be sure to choose PM or highest quality).
Here are the colours I chose for the wardrobes:
• Dust Grey in my son’s room.
• Cashmere Grey in my daughter’s room.
• Angora Grey in the master bedroom.
Sacha’s team worked quickly, installing everything within a few days, which kept us right on schedule. We did order all the materials three weeks prior to installation. So again, being super organised is key. More on this later…
Paneling and Black-and-White Marble Tiles
One of the first major changes we made to the house was adding paneling throughout the hallways and living space. Paneling has always been a favourite of mine for its ability to add depth and character, and Greg and Kris did an amazing job making it feel seamless.
For the hallway flooring, I went bold with black-and-white marble tiles. I’ve always loved the classic, dramatic look of hotel lobbies like The Ritz in London, which has inspired me for years. The tiles, sourced from Fired Earth (Chequered court in black and white), completely transformed the entrance, giving it that boutique hotel vibe that I adore.
Paint Choices: Little Greene
When it came to paint, I turned to Little Greene, a British brand that came highly recommended by so many people. Known for their eco-friendly, high-quality paints, Little Greene’s colours are timeless and rich, with finishes that are both beautiful and durable. Their Intelligent Matt Emulsion is not only stunning, but also practical for a family home.
Although I project managed and designed the whole house by myself, I did lean on my friend Bari from Blank Slate Interior Studio, who gave me so much valuable advice as I made decisions. I’d constantly WhatsApp her pictures of samples and ideas to get her feedback, and her guidance was a huge help in narrowing down my colour choices.
Here’s what we went with:
• Living Room & Master Bedroom: Slaked Lime Mid – a soft, warm neutral that creates a sense of calm and sophistication.
• Upstairs Hallway: Slaked Lime – a slightly lighter version to keep the space feeling open and airy.
• Son’s Room: Shallows – a tranquil blue-grey that’s both playful and refined.
• In my daughter’s room it was between China Clay by Little Greene and Taupe 02 by Lick. We ended up using Taupe 02 as it was slightly more muted, however if you are after a cleaner, taupe-pink then I would highly recommend China Clay for a girls room. I think both colours would work great for any age, whether it’s a baby or a teen.
For accents, I used Intelligent Eggshell finishes:
• Staircase Rail & Wooden Beams: Lamp Black – a bold, dramatic black that adds contrast and definition.
• Skirting Boards & Doors: Loft White – a crisp, clean white to tie everything together.
Switches and Fixtures: Dowsing & Reynolds
Another collaboration I’m thrilled about was with Dowsing & Reynolds, a brand I’ve admired for their beautifully designed fixtures. We chose antique brass switches with black inserts, which added a touch of understated luxury and went well with my aesthetic.
Their matte black door handles and knobs were another standout. They’re sleek, tactile, and incredibly well-made, elevating the smaller details of the house. It’s amazing how much impact these finishing touches can have, and Dowsing & Reynolds really delivered on quality and style.
Lighting and Floors
For lighting, I decided to mix high and low. Since the kitchen is a future project, I kept costs down with budget-friendly pendants and spotlights from Amazon, which turned out to be surprisingly stylish. In contrast, the dining room features a gorgeous chandelier from The House Lights, which makes a real statement and brings the whole space together whilst still being budget-friendly.
For the floors, we sanded and re-stained the original wood downstairs, finishing them with a matte oil. Upstairs, the flooring is bamboo—not my favourite, but it works for now. Replacing it with real wood is definitely on my future to-do list.
The Secret to a Quick Turnaround
The key to turning everything around in just four weeks was careful planning and timing. As soon as we exchanged contracts, I reached out to builders for quotes and measurements. The seller kindly allowed several visits, which meant I could finalise every detail—from paint orders to fixtures—before completion.
By the time we got the keys at 11am, every delivery had been scheduled, and Kris’s team started work by 1pm that same day. With just two weeks left in our rental property, I project-managed everything to ensure the house was move-in ready. The other two weeks were for easier things like changing switches, installing lights and finish installing the downstairs coat cupboard.
Before Pictures
Below shows some of the digital plans of the renovation…
Shoe and coat cupboard in the hallway:
Living room and paneling:
I also wanted to include a few pictures during the renovation before the wardrobes were installed, paint swatches and the finishing touches such as plug sockets that really made all the difference!
Testing out some of the paint colours!
Future Plans
While we’re thrilled with how far the house has come, there’s still more to do. The loft conversion, a family bathroom and garden are our big projects for this year, and I’m dreaming of adding a walk-in wardrobe and en suite bathroom.
This renovation journey has been intense but so rewarding. If you’re about to embark on your own, I hope this inspires you to take the leap—it’s amazing what you can achieve with some planning, the right team, and a clear vision.
*The renovation was fully paid for by me, however I did receive a press discount on some of the items mentioned such as the tiles, paint, switches and door knobs.
