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Houzz Tour: A Subtle Palette of Toning Pastels Lifts a Tired Home
This top-to-toe refresh gently celebrates the property’s many period features while creating a light, modern family home
What a difference a pretty palette can make. This Victorian semi had plenty of beautiful original features, but the rooms, many of which had old carpet and shabby fittings and joinery, were crying out for a refresh. The new owners asked Monique Beatty of Fab My Life to take on the whole property, saying they wanted something more colourful but still calming, light and open.
Monique has not only revived the house with soft, refreshing colours, she’s woven in gentle repetition in the flooring and fittings that creates continuity throughout the house for a considered, cohesive result.
Monique has not only revived the house with soft, refreshing colours, she’s woven in gentle repetition in the flooring and fittings that creates continuity throughout the house for a considered, cohesive result.
As with the rest of the house, the front living room had good bones, but was very tired. This ‘before’ photo shows how the decorative fireplace and hearth tiles were lovely, but needed a good clean.
The couple also wanted to lighten up the floorboards a little to work with the herringbone parquet that was relatively recently laid in the kitchen at the back of the house.
The couple also wanted to lighten up the floorboards a little to work with the herringbone parquet that was relatively recently laid in the kitchen at the back of the house.
The revived green hearth tiles helped to steer the colour direction, but the family’s preferences were key. “We do an individual personality quiz to start with and from that we can make sure everyone’s personality works in the space,” Monique says. “The wife leaned towards soft pastels, while the husband was a mixture of pastels and deep colours [used in his home office on the top floor, not shown]”.
Monique has run a palette of greens, blues and pinks through the three floors. She chose a very pale green for the two reception rooms, with a darker tone on the skirting boards. “We went for a deeper colour on the skirtings and a muted tone above to create a detail,” she says. “We didn’t really want to touch the coving, so we kept [the detail] at a lower eye level to make the space feel tall, light and airy.”
The floorboards were sanded and treated with a white oil to lighten them.
Skirting boards painted in Aquamarine - Mid, Little Greene. Walls and cabinets painted in Cromarty, Farrow & Ball. Helston chandelier, The White Company. Hockney leather armchairs, Barker and Stonehouse.
Monique has run a palette of greens, blues and pinks through the three floors. She chose a very pale green for the two reception rooms, with a darker tone on the skirting boards. “We went for a deeper colour on the skirtings and a muted tone above to create a detail,” she says. “We didn’t really want to touch the coving, so we kept [the detail] at a lower eye level to make the space feel tall, light and airy.”
The floorboards were sanded and treated with a white oil to lighten them.
Skirting boards painted in Aquamarine - Mid, Little Greene. Walls and cabinets painted in Cromarty, Farrow & Ball. Helston chandelier, The White Company. Hockney leather armchairs, Barker and Stonehouse.
Monique chose the furniture with the couple. “We haven’t stuffed the rooms, so [the owners] can find other pieces in time,” she says. They’re also planning to hang artworks, not in place when the photos were taken.
Monique used the Houzz Pro Proposals tool to smooth the process of sharing furniture and fittings suggestions, as everything is presented with photos, descriptions and prices, and the option for the owners to click accept or reject. “We also use [the tools] from a financial and tracker perspective,” she says.
The middle room is flanked by glazed doors on both sides, which makes up for the fact there’s only a small window in there. These decorative doors are original. “We just gave them some love and kept them as a feature in themselves,” Monique says.
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Monique used the Houzz Pro Proposals tool to smooth the process of sharing furniture and fittings suggestions, as everything is presented with photos, descriptions and prices, and the option for the owners to click accept or reject. “We also use [the tools] from a financial and tracker perspective,” she says.
The middle room is flanked by glazed doors on both sides, which makes up for the fact there’s only a small window in there. These decorative doors are original. “We just gave them some love and kept them as a feature in themselves,” Monique says.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
The middle room is now a snug that can be part of the wider room or closed off for quiet TV watching.
The glass drops chandelier in here is the same as the one in the living room, and there’s a smaller version in the hallway, creating continuity.
Frame TV, Samsung.
The glass drops chandelier in here is the same as the one in the living room, and there’s a smaller version in the hallway, creating continuity.
Frame TV, Samsung.
Originally, there was an exposed boiler in here rather ruining the aesthetic, plus the black blind wasn’t helping with the light look the couple wanted.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to builders, carpenters and decorators, on Houzz.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to builders, carpenters and decorators, on Houzz.
Monique had a cupboard built to house the boiler that echoes the existing alcove cupboard on the right, which was refurbished. Books are important to the whole family, so there are plenty of bookshelves throughout the house.
Monique changed the black blind for white shutters to match the ones in the living room. “We also swapped a lot of the handles throughout for antique brass ones,” she says.
Antique brass fittings, Armac Martin.
Monique changed the black blind for white shutters to match the ones in the living room. “We also swapped a lot of the handles throughout for antique brass ones,” she says.
Antique brass fittings, Armac Martin.
The kitchen didn’t need much work, as it had recently been renovated, but Monique made some tweaks to warm it up.
She added velvet curtains in a folksy pattern that link the colours in the home’s new palette. “[The owners] wanted to be able to block everything out in the winter and potentially help with some heat retention,” Monique says. The roller blinds were already in place.
The plant rack adds both graphic detail and greenery to link with the garden.
Walls painted in Salix; woodwork painted in Windmill Lane, both Little Greene. Kami velvet curtains in Emerald, Linwood. Bindon wall planter, House of Isabella.
The plant rack adds both graphic detail and greenery to link with the garden.
Walls painted in Salix; woodwork painted in Windmill Lane, both Little Greene. Kami velvet curtains in Emerald, Linwood. Bindon wall planter, House of Isabella.
The chunky oak dining table, teamed with comfy leather chairs, is large enough to seat a crowd, as the couple love entertaining.
The reeded glass pendant shades tie in with the glass drops chandeliers in the other ground floor rooms.
The reeded glass pendant shades tie in with the glass drops chandeliers in the other ground floor rooms.
The hallway before works.
Monique had her team refresh the hall floorboards and strip the stairs back to wood. She added a striped runner, which includes the main colours in the palette, but this time without stair rods, as the couple preferred to keep the look simple.
The door seen at the end of the hallway on the right leads to a small bathroom.
Kyoto Blossom stair runner, Roger Oates.
The door seen at the end of the hallway on the right leads to a small bathroom.
Kyoto Blossom stair runner, Roger Oates.
The bathroom was originally just a downstairs loo.
Monique saw there was enough space to create a shower room. This is mostly used by the husband, so she included the deep blues he likes.
She took out a storage cupboard in the old room to fit in a shower, so had this unit built and chose a vanity unit with a drawer to make up for it to some extent.
Again, a reeded glass wall light links to the other lighting.
Built-in unit painted in Vardo, Farrow & Ball.
She took out a storage cupboard in the old room to fit in a shower, so had this unit built and chose a vanity unit with a drawer to make up for it to some extent.
Again, a reeded glass wall light links to the other lighting.
Built-in unit painted in Vardo, Farrow & Ball.
The husband was keen on a luxury feel, so Monique chose large-format, marble-effect tiles in the shower. “Then, for a bit more interest, we created the shower end and splashback from kit-kat tiles,” she says. “I didn’t want to use the kit-kat tiles everywhere, though, or it would have made it feel much smaller – using large-format tiles creates the illusion of space in a small room.”
The kit-kat tiles unite the colours in the marble tiles and the blue cabinet, while the terrazzo flooring does the same job of bringing together the oak and brass fittings.
Marble luxe porcelain tiles in Smeraldo; Bamboo porcelain mosaic tiles in Verdigris, all Ca’ Pietra. Terrazzo Nouveau porcelain floor tiles in Ivory, Mandarin Stone.
The kit-kat tiles unite the colours in the marble tiles and the blue cabinet, while the terrazzo flooring does the same job of bringing together the oak and brass fittings.
Marble luxe porcelain tiles in Smeraldo; Bamboo porcelain mosaic tiles in Verdigris, all Ca’ Pietra. Terrazzo Nouveau porcelain floor tiles in Ivory, Mandarin Stone.
Next to the understairs cupboard, across from the shower room, there was a good-sized space being wasted.
Monique had a coat and general outdoor paraphernalia cupboard built in the space. “We added some wallpaper internally as a nice backdrop,” she says.
Bounty wallpaper in Terracotta, Arte.
Bounty wallpaper in Terracotta, Arte.
The new ground floor plan showing how the coats cupboard was neatly slotted in.
The couple’s bedroom on the first floor originally had dark walls and a tired carpet.
Monique stripped back the room and refreshed the floor. The carved wooden bed and floral duvet cover both have a folksy feel.
The wall colour has a soft pink undertone, which the wife was keen on, but there’s also some blue for the husband in the bed linen and on the wardrobes.
Monique created a reading nook in the generous bay. “It’s a very quiet road,” she says.
Walls painted in China Clay; skirting boards painted in Masquerade - Mid, both Little Greene. Wardrobes painted in Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball. Coco bed, Loaf. Runa armchairs, Barker and Stonehouse.
The wall colour has a soft pink undertone, which the wife was keen on, but there’s also some blue for the husband in the bed linen and on the wardrobes.
Monique created a reading nook in the generous bay. “It’s a very quiet road,” she says.
Walls painted in China Clay; skirting boards painted in Masquerade - Mid, both Little Greene. Wardrobes painted in Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball. Coco bed, Loaf. Runa armchairs, Barker and Stonehouse.
The alcove wardrobes were existing, but needed new interiors. “We fitted drawers and a hanging rail in each,” she says.
She created a tiled hearth in the style of the ones downstairs.
She created a tiled hearth in the style of the ones downstairs.
The couple were keen to fit a utility cupboard in this spare bedroom at the top of the stairs, and the area to the left here was the perfect spot, as it’s next to the bathroom, so fitting pipes wasn’t too difficult.
This room is now multifunctional. The double cupboard contains a washing machine and tumble dryer, plus a hanging rail, while the slim cupboard on the right has slots for the ironing board and cleaning products.
Monique has also added a sofa-bed, so the room can still accommodate guests when required.
Woods wallpaper, Cole & Son. Skirting boards and door painted in Brassica; walls painted in Elephant’s Breath, both Farrow & Ball. Innovation Living cane sofa-bed, John Lewis & Partners.
More: 5 Inspiring Before and After Utility Room Transformations
Monique has also added a sofa-bed, so the room can still accommodate guests when required.
Woods wallpaper, Cole & Son. Skirting boards and door painted in Brassica; walls painted in Elephant’s Breath, both Farrow & Ball. Innovation Living cane sofa-bed, John Lewis & Partners.
More: 5 Inspiring Before and After Utility Room Transformations
As the couple’s bedroom only has the two alcove wardrobes and Monique was keen to keep the look airy, the existing wardrobe in here provides overflow clothes storage.
The interior needed totally renovating, so it now has a range of drawers and shelves plus a rail. “We adapted the internals, as it was falling apart,” Monique says.
The Wave velvet blind fabric, Linwood.
The interior needed totally renovating, so it now has a range of drawers and shelves plus a rail. “We adapted the internals, as it was falling apart,” Monique says.
The Wave velvet blind fabric, Linwood.
The son’s bedroom, located between the couple’s room and the bathroom, just needed a refresh. A grubby carpet was ripped up and the floorboards sanded, while the walls and woodwork were repainted. The wardrobe was fitted with smart antique brass knobs and the interior was reworked.
Low storage gives the boy easy access to his books.
Newbie 7458 Adventures wallpaper, available at TM Interiors. Walls painted in Skylight; woodwork painted in Parma Gray, both Farrow & Ball.
Low storage gives the boy easy access to his books.
Newbie 7458 Adventures wallpaper, available at TM Interiors. Walls painted in Skylight; woodwork painted in Parma Gray, both Farrow & Ball.
The second bathroom is also on the first floor.
The wife very much wanted a claw-foot tub, so Monique sourced this mini version (1500mm) to fit into the compact space.
Hampton bath with classic legs, Burlington.
Hampton bath with classic legs, Burlington.
The green tiles include various tones, adding texture, while pink zones the washbasin area.
Vanity unit painted in Setting Plaster, Farrow & Ball. Bamboo porcelain mosaic tiles in Blush; green tiles, all Ca’ Pietra.
Vanity unit painted in Setting Plaster, Farrow & Ball. Bamboo porcelain mosaic tiles in Blush; green tiles, all Ca’ Pietra.
The new first floor plan shows how the utility cupboard is close to the bathroom, making it relatively easy to bring through pipework.
The daughter’s bedroom is on the second floor. Again, there are plenty of bookshelves, plus a vanity mirror where she can hang her trinkets.
As in the other bedrooms, Monique took up the tired carpet and sanded and white oiled the floorboards.
As in the other bedrooms, Monique took up the tired carpet and sanded and white oiled the floorboards.
The joinery was already there, but Monique refreshed it with a sophisticated pink paint.
Walls painted in Skimming Stone; woodwork painted in Sulking Room Pink, both Farrow & Ball.
Walls painted in Skimming Stone; woodwork painted in Sulking Room Pink, both Farrow & Ball.
The new top floor plan. The sofa in the office can be folded out to create a bed for guests.
Are the owners happy with the finished home? “The wife was crying – in a good way!” Monique says. “She was very happy.”
The husband said in his review on Houzz, “We are very pleased with the result … The quality and aesthetic of everything was to the highest level and Monique was a pleasure to deal with.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite part of this design? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Are the owners happy with the finished home? “The wife was crying – in a good way!” Monique says. “She was very happy.”
The husband said in his review on Houzz, “We are very pleased with the result … The quality and aesthetic of everything was to the highest level and Monique was a pleasure to deal with.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite part of this design? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A couple with a daughter (6) and son (3)
Location Hove, East Sussex
Property A three-storey Victorian semi-detached house
Size Five bedrooms (one used as an office) and two bathrooms
Designer Monique Beatty of Fab My Life
Project year 2023
Photos by Limelight Interiors Photography
The owners wanted their new house to be redecorated as soon as they got the keys, before they moved in. “They said, ‘We’re looking for something that feels light, clean, modern and fresh, but is ultimately very practical,”’ Monique says.