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How to improve a Small Victorian cottage

8 years ago

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying this 2 bedroom house which has already been renovated with an extension at the back, however I feel that it's not quite right yet. Would you have any idea for interior transformation that would make it even more cosy and practical? And how to increase the space in the small bedroom? Thank you!

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Amber Jeavons Ltd

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hello Elodie, One thing I would do to make the living room feel bigger is take out the shelving either side of the chimney breast. One of my personal hates with fireplaces.. If you painted the chimney breast a nice colour like a dark teal (fantastic with tan sofa, woods etc) that would stand out and the alcoves a creamy colour like whitening.. You could have the opposite wall in teal too, which really works with the floorboards, wood and a fantastic sofa or two like those in the picture! They are gr8!!!

In the alcoves you could then have another mirror and a small side table or console with a lamp.. I'd be inclined to want to reveal all of the boards and maybe have a small rug here and there or not at all! It's lovely! I would have continued the floor boards in the kitchen and the entire house. Wooden venetian blinds with tapes would be nice even on the kitchen windows and I do agree that the curtain pole in the living room is too high.. Could be a nicer looking one with Voile type fabric... Change the light fitting in the living room to something that hangs down even a little... Something pretty in glass.. with a ceiling rose. You could even add a small cornice...

I would have a large mirror leaning on that panelled wall too, if you painted it the same colour as that wall for instance it would blend in.. Would give the idea of more space and extra light.. can never have too much even if it is bright.. Ebay oversized mirrors is a good place to start.. They are not originals but who cares.. You can paint it to look old, but an idea anyway..

The kitchen cupboards are nice! Maybe paint the knobs fully the same colour as the cupboards so they don't stand out.. and the only thing I'd suggest changing is the sink. A really nice butler sink could go really nicely with the tap.. Cream Smeg old 50's style fridge and a gas hob.. Can't see the oven... Wooden venetian with tapes for the window...

For the bedroom I like the mirror there... Maybe carry the teal colour onto that wall.. Leave the rest chalky cream.. Have a chest at the foot of the bed if you can manage it and a chest of drawers too if possible.. Then you can get a bigger bed.. Can I see a little fireplace.. Don't take that out.. it's lovely.. blinds again in the bedroom... You can also put in some over head shelving... keep the shelves the same as the walls, that way they blend in...

Think the place has a lot of character and really very lovely.... : ))

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Comments (15)

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creativeorg
8 years ago
Is the room to extend the kitchen to extend the full worth of the back of the house? If you put in plenty of velux windows and bi-fold doors then you wouldn't lose the light from the patio doors. Regarding the small bedroom. A lighter floor would create an illusion of space. Also lighter furniture and walls would help.
emtickner
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi Elodie
I think it's a really nice space. I live in a Victorian terrace that's even smaller so feel your pain!
For the living room I personally like blues/greens/greys against warm pine floors. Heritage colours like a light duck egg could look cosy and suit the age of the house.
Could the TV be incorporated into the alcove shelves so it doesn't have to be on the wall? That might make it look neater (and bigger).
Is that the second bedroom? If so, does it need a large wardrobe? Would a smaller chest of drawers work instead? It might take up less space and you could have a pretty lamp etc on top to make it feel cosier.

You may also have more pine floorboards under the brown carpet which if you got refinished would help bounce light around and look warmer.
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8 years ago
Window treatments in a small cottage will also give an impression of more space and let in lots of reflective light in a neutral colour. I recommend plantation shutters with large louvres if you have the privacy or medium louvres if you are overlooked. They are a permanent feature too. So you will not have to replace.
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Joanna of Bath
8 years ago
It

oops like a lovely space. Clearly the nuts and bolts of the renovation have been done well. The Lounge lacks light, make the most of window and add perhaps free standing light where you can. It will look better when you have lighter coloured sofas or one sofa and smaller chairs either side of the window will feel more spacious. When it's done well a shabby chic looks good as you have the canvas. Try linens with a hint of pastels. The bedroom just needs the min in it. Perhaps shelves higher up and a chair underneath. Depends what your using it for. Again light colours. Good luck I would have fun creating in there.
stabmonkey
8 years ago
The downstairs is lovely as it is. The bedroom is small but I would make a virtue of it being cosy, maybe replace the bed with a daybed and make it pretty with floral bedding.

A narrow built-in wardrobe, or a shaker style hanging rail might suit.
Jonathan
8 years ago
Personally I find there is too much wood for the space and the walls are too cream- cream can look a little yellow in electric light I would choose a neutral with grey or green in it. I would then add an extra colour such as claret as an accent- be smart about how you use the claret- in one room paint a chimney breast the palest pink. In the next room use a mid shade such as rose for bigger accessories such as a rug or throw or a blind behind neutral curtains. In the next room use claret but with restraint - perhaps add some bradding to plain curtains, a picture mount, lamp shades on side tables or as part of the pattern on something else such as bedding.
I would also consider painting the doors soft white.
Lastly I would get fuller curtains and hang them on wider poles for a more expensive look.
headers13
8 years ago
Looks a nice space. I would add coving & a plain-ish ceiling rose to the sitting room area as always makes a room look smarter. As per Jonathan above bit too much wood so maybe re-plaster the wall although think the panelling could be original. Nicer shelving in the alcoves & put the tv into there. The curtain poles look a little high so pull them down a little & get better ones. Smaller wardrobe in the spare room & nicer mirror.
PRO
Stella Michael
8 years ago
A floor plan would be helpful.
PRO
Pat Oliver Interior Design
8 years ago
Hi Elodie, I think this is a very sweet looking house and unlike some of the others, I think the wood is charming. It's difficult to see how to alter your layout without a plan, however, there appears to be a lot of wasted space behind the sofa facing away from the French doors. If possible, put that sofa on the wall facing the fireplace and include the Bergere (?) chair plus possibly another into the conversation area. Lightly coloured plantation shutters on the window and the French doors would lighten the room up.

If you want to stay with curtains, this is your opportunity to bring some colourful patterns into the room on windows and as throw cushions for the sofas. Repeat one of the colours on the back wall of the shelves. You could also think about painting the floor with a white colourwash to lighten the pine.

The kitchen looks to be well planned and a simple cottage style. If your worktop is real wood, then a Belfast sink would be more traditional, but if the worktops are a laminate, then in order to use a Belfast sink, you would need to replace the tops. Some lime green accessories, like the washing up bowl, would perk up the space.

You don't mention how often the bed in the single room is used. Is it an occasional guest, or a child's room in use most of the time? If it's a guest room, do you want to use it for another function most of the time? There are beds that can drop down which function as a desk most of the time. http://www.studybed.co.uk/ Another bed, more permanent is a cabin bed with storage underneath. http://www.mrsflatpack.co.uk/childrens-high-sleeper-cabin-single-beds-14-c.asp The higher the ceiling in the room, the more storage you could fit in. If the cabin bed went on the wall with the mirror, you would have loads of floor space.
heavensenthouse
8 years ago
Already lots of great advice here, but I would say - take the mirror down from above the fireplace as it brings the chimney breast in and narrows the space. Also, hang pictures and the clock much further down the walls so that they are lower than the top of the doors. It will make the ceilings look taller and hence, the rooms feel more spacious. It may also help to remove the top shelves in the alcoves for the same reason. Sometimes a big picture can work well in a small area. If you're using smaller ones it's useful to arrange them in an interesting way [experiment by arranging them on the floor first] rather than hanging in a straight line. Very lovely home though.
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Mellow Duck
8 years ago
Hi Elodie, have to say it looks a really beautiful cottage..... Do bear our multifunctional pods in mind, perfect for small spaces or where you have to get your furniture to work hard for their footprint! They can multitask as seats, footstools or side tables and move from room to room, when you have guests for example.....and as well as our fabrics, you can have made in your own so they can fit with any space !

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maria galvano
7 years ago
Very charming space and ooddles of character already love AJ Interiors suggestions and lots of the pieces already there. I would sit down list all the good points like gr8t sofas lovely floors and doors charming little kitchen then based on my budget I would pick out essential items and buy the best I could and then take my time to accessories with beautiful rugs, cushions and linens and art. Simple, gorgeous place :) and most of all enjoy the process as your home evolves and changes as we all do with our spaces
PRO
Amber Jeavons Ltd
7 years ago
Thank you so much Maria. :))
PRO
User
7 years ago
Hi Elodie,

Gosh thats a difficult one to advise on.

I normally like to sit in the space, absorb the atmosphere and make suggestions from there. The first thing I would say is that the rooms have a really lovely feel so you have a really strong interior to work with.

If I was in your position, if you haven't done it already, is to pull a scrapbook together of things you like and then study the pictures you chose, anywise why you like them and see if any of the solutions work with your rooms.

If it were my interior I would try to lighten the spaces up but still retain the quirky character.

Here is a few examples of the type of images I would source if I was starting this project: ( A picture tells a 1000 words !)

None of these are 100% correct but there are ideas within them that work and can be adapted to your room / taste.

The main thing is that you need continuity through the house. Try to create a scheme that ties the rooms together and breaths "light" into the spaces. The rooms have so much character you don't have to worry about them being uniform, each space will have it's own character.

Good luck with the project, hope I have been of assistance.

Martin; www.angel-martin.com

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