Houzz Tour: A 1980s Home is Given a Personality Boost with Colour
A clever mix of subtle greys and vivid accent shades brings character to a 1980s house
Interiors blogger and stylist Jenny Kakoudakis designed her home by mixing bold colour and elegant greys. To this, she added some eclectic style with a combination of modern furniture, vintage family heirlooms and some classic midcentury designs.
The couple started their renovation by replacing the existing flooring and carpet with a smoked-oak laminate. They also had the Artex ceilings skimmed to achieve a smooth finish.
Jenny chose a very pale grey for three of the living room walls, which gives the space a calm feel. “The double aspect gives this room plenty of natural light,” she says, and this allowed her to experiment with vivid colour.
Flooring, Floorsave. Walls painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball. Eden sofa, Sofa Workshop. Cushions, H&M. Coffee table, La Redoute. Rugs, The Rug Seller. Dutchbone Saffra set of two tables, Houseology.
Jenny chose a very pale grey for three of the living room walls, which gives the space a calm feel. “The double aspect gives this room plenty of natural light,” she says, and this allowed her to experiment with vivid colour.
Flooring, Floorsave. Walls painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball. Eden sofa, Sofa Workshop. Cushions, H&M. Coffee table, La Redoute. Rugs, The Rug Seller. Dutchbone Saffra set of two tables, Houseology.
An emerald-green sofa provides a bold contrast to the pale grey walls. An old piece of art, painted by Jenny’s grandmother, hangs above the modern sofa and provides the starting point for the rest of the scheme – mustard-yellow and fuchsia-pink accessories pick out the hues in the painting. A pale grey rug ties in with the walls.
With a focus on comfort and practicality, Jenny chose a large coffee table with a reclaimed wood surface. “It’s strong enough to put your feet up on, and there’s plenty of room for books below,” she says.
With a focus on comfort and practicality, Jenny chose a large coffee table with a reclaimed wood surface. “It’s strong enough to put your feet up on, and there’s plenty of room for books below,” she says.
On the opposite wall, Jenny chose a darker grey. A television blends into the dark walls and sits on top of a braid-fronted sideboard.
Lene Bjerre sideboard, Houzz Shop. Wall painted in Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball.
Lene Bjerre sideboard, Houzz Shop. Wall painted in Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball.
At the other side of the fireplace is a vintage two-seater settee with brass legs. “It’s a family heirloom brought over from Greece,” says Jenny. “We’re planning to re-cover it with greens and pinks to give it a new lease of life.” She covered an old ottoman with a fresh, blue patterned fabric, and has displayed a mix of inherited art and second-hand paintings above.
Silk cushions, Bivain.
Silk cushions, Bivain.
“The kitchen is the only room we haven’t made plans for yet,” says Jenny. “Everything is as it was when we moved in.”
She adds, “I like the colour of the cabinets, and we could update the handles, but we will redesign it when we eventually extend the house.”
She adds, “I like the colour of the cabinets, and we could update the handles, but we will redesign it when we eventually extend the house.”
The rosewood dining table is from Greece. “It has been with our family for a long time, and my father has made me promise never to sell it,” laughs Jenny.
Throughout the house, Jenny has tried to mix old and new – here, midcentury Tulip chairs give a modern twist to the antique table.
Further contrast is provided by the rug. “It was a wedding gift,” says Jenny, “and the red looks great with the blue walls.”
Camellia wallpaper; Pale Wedgwood paint on walls, both Little Greene.
Throughout the house, Jenny has tried to mix old and new – here, midcentury Tulip chairs give a modern twist to the antique table.
Further contrast is provided by the rug. “It was a wedding gift,” says Jenny, “and the red looks great with the blue walls.”
Camellia wallpaper; Pale Wedgwood paint on walls, both Little Greene.
French doors and a floor-to-ceiling side window bring lots of light into the dining room. There is no ceiling light fitting, so Jenny replaced the traditional wall uplighters with three opaque globes. “These emit so much more light than before,” she says.
The sideboard is an eBay find that the couple have repainted. “I used chalk paint, and added brass handles to the drawers,” says Jenny.
Sideboard painted in Napoleonic Blue, Annie Sloan. Butterfly artwork, Rise Art.
The sideboard is an eBay find that the couple have repainted. “I used chalk paint, and added brass handles to the drawers,” says Jenny.
Sideboard painted in Napoleonic Blue, Annie Sloan. Butterfly artwork, Rise Art.
The downstairs office is used by Jenny’s husband. “When we first moved in we both had our office upstairs, and I was convinced I could turn this small room into a dining room,” she says. “I ripped out all the storage furniture and then realised the dining table couldn’t fit through the door – big mistake.”
They decided to turn it into an office instead, and chose a striking wallpaper. “We also found a refurbished 1940s captain’s desk on eBay,” she says.
Enigma wallpaper, Farrow & Ball. Desk chair, Made.com. 1940s captain’s desk, eBay.
They decided to turn it into an office instead, and chose a striking wallpaper. “We also found a refurbished 1940s captain’s desk on eBay,” she says.
Enigma wallpaper, Farrow & Ball. Desk chair, Made.com. 1940s captain’s desk, eBay.
The shelving unit was an Ikea hack. “We spray-painted it gold,” explains Jenny. “Most of the shelves are glass, but two are wood, so I covered those ones with a marble-effect vinyl sticker.”
Shelving unit, Ikea.
Shelving unit, Ikea.
Dark grey walls in the hallway contrast with a white console table. An ornate mirror adds texture.
Walls painted in Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball.
Walls painted in Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball.
“When we first moved in, there was an arch between the two closets in the master bedroom,” says Jenny. “And the walls were terracotta and pink.”
The couple removed the arch, and painted the wall a soft blue. The colour offsets the pink on the upholstered headboard.
Wall painted in Denim Drift, Dulux. Bed, DFS.
The couple removed the arch, and painted the wall a soft blue. The colour offsets the pink on the upholstered headboard.
Wall painted in Denim Drift, Dulux. Bed, DFS.
There was limited room between the cupboards, so Jenny placed these brass-finish bedside tables sideways to fit in the space.
The brass-effect wall lights above aren’t wired in, so Jenny chose a cord that would tie in with the furniture and lamp.
Wall lights, Rough Luck Studio.
The brass-effect wall lights above aren’t wired in, so Jenny chose a cord that would tie in with the furniture and lamp.
Wall lights, Rough Luck Studio.
In the guest bedroom, Jenny took inspiration from the style of traditional English boutique hotels. The background of the vintage wallpaper is the same shade as the paint on the rest of the walls, and Jenny picked out the rest of the colours with the emerald-green bed, the colourful bed textiles and coral-red blinds.
Paradise - Feather wallpaper and Rolling Fog paint, Little Greene. Bermondsey bed, Sofas & Stuff.
Paradise - Feather wallpaper and Rolling Fog paint, Little Greene. Bermondsey bed, Sofas & Stuff.
The striking bedside lamps have a velvet shade in neon yellow. “I love the effect of the velvet, and they give out a surprising amount of light,” says Jenny.
Lamps, Pooky. Bedding, Designer’s Guild. Dark blue and green cushion, Laura Loves Design. Small grey and green cushion with love-note pocket at the back, Natalia Willmott at My Billet Doux.
Lamps, Pooky. Bedding, Designer’s Guild. Dark blue and green cushion, Laura Loves Design. Small grey and green cushion with love-note pocket at the back, Natalia Willmott at My Billet Doux.
The light-filled room that belongs to Jenny’s son has a dark feature wall. “We added an accent wall in a dark blue, which I think will grow with him,” she says. “And it’s versatile enough to go with other shades.”
Wall painted in Steel Symphony 1, Dulux.
Wall painted in Steel Symphony 1, Dulux.
“We didn’t want to put a desk in here, as we preferred to give him space to play on the floor,” says Jenny. “And he has a desk next to me in my office.”
Instead, there is a shark chair in the corner, as Jenny’s son loves to read. A set of Ikea drawers works as both a bedside table and storage, and Jenny customised it with leather pull handles.
Drawers, Ikea. Leather pull handles, Etsy. Table lamp base, Vita Copenhagen; shade, Hokolo London. Chair and floor lamp, Made.com.
Instead, there is a shark chair in the corner, as Jenny’s son loves to read. A set of Ikea drawers works as both a bedside table and storage, and Jenny customised it with leather pull handles.
Drawers, Ikea. Leather pull handles, Etsy. Table lamp base, Vita Copenhagen; shade, Hokolo London. Chair and floor lamp, Made.com.
In her office, Jenny wanted to make a visual impact, so she painted two walls in a soft black with blue undertones.
Two desks sit side by side – one for Jenny and one for her son. “I spend a lot of time in here, putting together my blog,” she says, “and I can supervise my son while he does his homework.”
The books are displayed back to front. Jenny explains, “We’ve read all the books, so we don’t need to see the spines and this makes it look less busy.”
Wall painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball. Other wall painted in Steel Symphony 4, Dulux. Pendant, Made in Design.
Two desks sit side by side – one for Jenny and one for her son. “I spend a lot of time in here, putting together my blog,” she says, “and I can supervise my son while he does his homework.”
The books are displayed back to front. Jenny explains, “We’ve read all the books, so we don’t need to see the spines and this makes it look less busy.”
Wall painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball. Other wall painted in Steel Symphony 4, Dulux. Pendant, Made in Design.
Jenny already had the desks and bookcase, and luckily they fitted perfectly alongside each other.
Billy bookcase and desks, Ikea. Chairs, Made.com.
Billy bookcase and desks, Ikea. Chairs, Made.com.
Jenny has plans for her home’s two bathrooms, but for now she dresses them with a few accessories.
“The garden was already landscaped before we moved in,” says Jenny. “It was professionally done, so they’ve managed to create different zones, including a decked area and a pathway behind the shed.”
Want to do something similar in your own outdoor space? Find landscape architects and garden designers in your area.
Want to do something similar in your own outdoor space? Find landscape architects and garden designers in your area.
Jenny chose garden furniture with an aluminium frame and composite wood surfaces, which is easy to carry around and can stay outside all summer.
Furniture, Danetti. Outdoor rug, Ikea.
Furniture, Danetti. Outdoor rug, Ikea.
As there aren’t many bright flowers in the garden, Jenny added colour by painting the shed and a little bistro set.
Table and chairs painted in Garden Shades, Cuprinol.
Tell us…
What do you think of the bold use of colour in this family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Table and chairs painted in Garden Shades, Cuprinol.
Tell us…
What do you think of the bold use of colour in this family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
1. Dorado Iron Heart Frame Mirror
2. Tiger Decorative Cushion
3. A.U. Maison Mustard Velvet Silk Cushion Cover
4. Henry Sofa, Emerald Green, 3-Seater
5. Normandy Cowhide Rug
6. Red Poppy Framed Wall Art
7. Vichy Recycled Pine Wood Iron Frame Coffee Table
8. Brady Table Lamp White
9. Turquoise Jade Bi-Disc Ornament
2. Tiger Decorative Cushion
3. A.U. Maison Mustard Velvet Silk Cushion Cover
4. Henry Sofa, Emerald Green, 3-Seater
5. Normandy Cowhide Rug
6. Red Poppy Framed Wall Art
7. Vichy Recycled Pine Wood Iron Frame Coffee Table
8. Brady Table Lamp White
9. Turquoise Jade Bi-Disc Ornament
Who lives here Jenny Kakoudakis, with her husband and nine-year-old son, as well as their labrador Bella
Where Surrey
Type of property Detached 1980s house
Size Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Jenny Kakoudakis of Seasons in Colour
The home of interiors blogger and stylist Jenny Kakoudakis and her husband is one of a few similar properties located in a cul-de-sac. “We wanted to give it some character, to make it feel different,” says Jenny. So she used her passion for colour to create a bold, bright interior scheme.
“I also wanted it to feel practical and welcoming, without being too busy” she says.