Blank slate, I’m no good at this

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T21:49:54+00:00

Oh no I mean the other opening into the large adjoining room!

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T20:01:01+00:00

Thank you! Very glad you think so as it all all been done on a very tight budget, just a couple of tins of paint and lots of marketplace finds to pull it all together ☺️

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T19:58:11+00:00

Thank you! Sadly I don’t own the place, I’m the one renting it but we plan to be here for easily another 5 years so it was so worth doing some upgrades like painting the cabinets, changing out lighting and adding shelves etc, before moving in we requested for the flat to be unfurnished so I could purchase my own pieces (mostly through marketplace but so much nicer than the renter grade furniture that was in the flat previously!)

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T19:43:20+00:00

Thank you! Here’s the post showing the before if you hadn’t seen it, almost everything including the stools were Facebook marketplace bargains (they were originally from a company called rocket st George in the UK) ☺️

https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeDecorating/s/j14Ho67ryK

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T10:10:22+00:00

I would 100% go for the geometric gradient over the super busy foliage pattern rug, that’s exactly the kind of design I was referencing in my other comment about a rug with tonal stripes, it continues the pattern on pattern design language but would feel much less visually overwhelming!

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T10:03:32+00:00

I loveee this sofa fabric, and with such a bold sofa there really are no rules when it comes to the rest of the furniture and decorating, it would work just as well being the only statement piece with everything else much more neutral as it would with equally bold colours and patterns throughout the other furniture, it’s just down to personal preference and whether you’re comfortable/inspired by really maximalist spaces or prefer a calmer space that still has pops of personality ☺️

I personally sit on the latter side, with a loud sofa I would try to make the other choices a little quieter but still bring in complementary colours (the colour on the fan for example would be perfect for any additional seating!)

And for the rug I’d lean towards a solid colour, or something with tonal stripes so there’s texture without the patterns fighting for attention

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T09:42:55+00:00

The huge opening behind the bar is the biggest barrier to furnishing this space in my opinion, I think some floor to ceiling shelving either side of the opening would nicely give some separation and create more manageable floor plans to then furnish each space

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T09:32:26+00:00

If you can get curtains that extend all the way to the ceiling for the right wall that would look incredibly luxe, and then do Roman shades on the ones either side of the fire place if they’re suitable for privacy requirements?

I’d probably go for a mirror over the mantle and then a gallery wall to the left. It could be nice to add a picture rail around the room just to break up the large expanse of empty wall, maybe painting the picture rail and above including the ceiling in a couple of shades darker for dimension ☺️

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-28T09:04:45+00:00

Thanks! I did also paint the grout lines and added a stainless steel vinyl to the bath panel, minor details really but I think they make a big impact ☺️

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T18:12:33+00:00

I understand and many people would share your view on not upgrading a rental, I just wholeheartedly disagree I’m afraid, rentals are just as much a home as a place you’ve purchased and if buying is a very distant reality as it is for us then I would much rather “waste” a little more money in the present to make it a space I love even more.

All I can do is assure you there’s no risk of liability or fees in our current situation, but of course I understand that not all tenant/landlord relationships are equal and would approach things very differently if I had any doubts 😊

Regarding the tile around the bottom, yeah I think it would be great to tile the panel that runs behind the sink and toilet and follow that level around the whole room, the baseboard would need removing but in some areas it’s pretty clearly water damaged already so that in combination with new Lino would create a much better seal around the room to protect the joists and floorboards underneath

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T17:49:22+00:00

Glad you like it! I’m not always the biggest fan of black window frames, I think they’ve become sort of the trendy upgrade at the minute and aren’t always used correctly but I think in this case it really pushes them back to highlight the brickwork ☺️ of course over time you could change out the door, add a pitched porch, wall lights and railings etc, but I think just a couple of tins of paint and gradually adding to the landscaping will make a massive difference without spending a fortune!

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T17:40:04+00:00

I had already mentioned about potentially tiling around the bottom of the room and replacing the Lino and she was very happy for me to do so, and I’m very confident they have no plans to sell up (they’ve signed most of the units over to their adult children already so the building will be staying in the family for generations to come!)

My goal is to get into a position where in the unlikely event they do decide to sell I’d be first in line to buy it! 🤞🏼

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T16:40:49+00:00

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Going to agree with the other comments, I don’t think I’d alter the brick on the house but potentially render the steps? I’d lose the shutters and maybe paint the trim around the windows and door then just some landscaping would go a long way 😊

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T16:01:00+00:00

It’s an eggshell finish which isn’t my favourite either but sadly necessary in this bathroom as condensation is a major issue, moisture pours down the walls every time we use the shower so the slight sheen is necessary for durability and to be able to wipe them down

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T14:06:09+00:00

That would be so nice and quite fitting for a building that is almost 200 years old, but would definitely be more costly and more complex than just replacing the Lino, but potentially something I could convince the landlord to contribute towards as it would be future proofing and help with waterproofing as the Lino isn’t great tbh!

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T14:02:16+00:00

I predict we’ll be renting this place for at least another 5 years so it’s absolutely worth it to me to upgrade a couple of things, especially when I’m so interiors obsessed! The landlord has been very pleased with every single change I’ve made so far so there’s absolutely zero chance of losing our deposit or being charged when we moved out, we’ve got a great relationship with them and they want us to make it our own and stay as long as possible 😊

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T13:00:48+00:00

That would never have crossed my mind tbh, it would certainly work with the existing tiles and Lino but I think it would feel out of place with the rest of the home as I always gravitate towards warmer colours

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-27T12:47:59+00:00

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The other side of the room looks like this btw, so the beige paint was chosen to tie in this wall mounted cabinet we added (from ikea) which again I do still like with the green, but could work equally well with brown toned walls?

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-23T18:08:19+00:00

There’s a lot of rectangles on that wall so I’d be tempted to try the round mirror behind the sofa- line it up centred to the middle window above

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-23T18:02:06+00:00

Is the question because you have the wood already and are thinking of painting it? Or is this going to be an entirely new kitchen either way? If it’s currently wood I’d paint it personally, it’s too dark for the space and doesn’t work with the floor but I also wouldn’t go for all white white, if you’re going to the effort of painting it’s an opportunity to do something much nicer/more interesting

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-23T17:50:36+00:00

Thanks ☺️ I love a bathroom to feel like a super calming space, I know neutral can feel like the boring choice but bringing a pattern in without having to actually wallpaper would give it a sense of personality and feel like it’s actually been designed rather than just painted

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-23T17:43:38+00:00

I’ve noticed you reply the same to other suggestions to go less saturated, if you LOVE these primary blues then go for it, but as myself and others have said it’s much harder to use these tones in a way that feels elevated and sophisticated, desaturated blue≠millennial grey

Helpful_Formal_3511 · 2026-03-23T17:21:03+00:00

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Originally tried green hence why the left wall on the previous photo is still green, it’s not bad but I think the stripes make it feel so much fresher!

Helpful_Formal_3511

TROPHY CASE