“For a couple of years, we walked past this house four times a day, taking our children to school and back, and never once imagined it would be within our budget,” East writes of a three-bedroom home in Frome, Somerset, in the United Kingdom. 

It was disappointing for East and her husband, Nick, when the beloved home came on the market, and the couple missed out. But East remembers it was an even bigger disappointment when that sale fell through, and it sold again within a few hours. But, as luck would have it, the third time was the charm for their family. 

“I couldn’t believe it when it came up a third time, and finally, we were in the right place at the right time,” East shares. “I don’t think we realized quite how much work was needed, but it had good bones, and it felt like a very happy and welcoming home.”

So, in 2019 after years of waiting, the family, which includes three children (Violet, Elodie, and Frank), a “sausage dog” named Pearl, and two guinea pigs named Bobblysock and Totoro, moved into the 1,212-square-foot home. 

Previously, the family had been renting a space, which limited the customizations East could add. But that changed almost immediately after stepping foot in their new home. “When we finally bought this place, I couldn’t resist the temptation any longer,” East says. “It was so liberating being able to experiment with color and having permission to paint murals, scallops, and stripes all over the house.”

“Although I definitely take the lead on our interiors, I think the whole family enjoys living in a space that’s bright and playful and full of interesting art and objects that tell the stories of our lives and travels.”

• Living room — Craig & Rose “Morris Blue”
• Main bedroom — Craig & Rose “Morris Blue” and Lick Paints “Pink 01”

• Print on stairs — Juniqe
• Vintage unit paint — Valspar “Peekaboo”

• Velvet sofa — Habitat
• Natural history print — Transport for London Shop
• Radiator — Best Heating 
• Strawberry and cat cushions — Laura Holden Studio/Etsy
• Colorful suitcases — Made dot com
• Foot stool — IKEA painted in Lick Paints “Green 08”
• Sofa cushions — Furn 
• Blinds — Emma Hardy Soft Furnishings 
• Cafe-style plantation shutters — Shuttercraft UK
• Goodrich flooring in natural oak — Woodpecker Flooring 
• Dog lamp — Matt Pugh
• Dog sofa — Made dot com 
• Hearth tiles — Your Tiles

• Dining table — Habitat
• Bench and pendants — IKEA
• Rug — Kukoon Rugs
• Chimney breast wall paint — Graham & Brown “Sterling Green”
• Beam paint — Benjamin Moore “Bright Yellow”
• Stool — H&M 
• Island stripes paint — Farrow & Ball “Nancy’s Blushes”
• Flower prints — Juniqe
• Stripes paint — Valspar “Beside the Seaside” 
• Maya honeycomb oak shelf — Maisons du Monde
• Vertical radiator painted in Benjamin Moore “Ciao Bella” — Best Heating
• Bird art print — Juniqe

• Dial S for Sunshine art print, Newton Davey — Etsy
• Pink tiles — Ca’Pietra
• Hanging pot — M&S
• Worktop — Plykea
• Mixer — KitchenAid 
• Pink plug switches — Varilight
• Gold Chrysler handles — Dowsing & Reynolds
• Striped splashback painted in Valspar “Violet Spray” 
• Fridge freezer — Smeg
• Kitchen units, sink, and extractor hood — IKEA 
• Worktops — Plykea 
• Neo Mint Tinkisso tap — Dowsing & Reynolds
• Flooring and encaustic tiles behind hob — Ca’Pietra 

• Beds and curtains — IKEA
• Miffy lamp — Mr Maria
• Hello Sunshine neon sign — Lights 4 Fun
• Checked bedding — George Home
• Rainbow cushion — H&M Home
• V & E wall hangings — Sketch by Sam/Etsy
• Wave after Wave wallpaper in peach, bubblegum, mint, and custard — Lust Home
• MDF scallop shelf trim — Camilla Hampton Interiors.

• Cot — Stokke
• Grid wallpaper — Ferm Living is similar
• Bottom of wall paint — Farrow & Ball “Pitch Black”
• Shelves — IKEA 
• Blinds — Emma Hardy Soft Furnishings 
• Rug, Little Bird — Jools Oliver
• Black sconce wall light — Liftad is similar
• Bowie face cushion — Paula and the Pencils/Etsy
• Tiger print — Desenio
• Jazzberry Blue rainbow solar system poster — Desenio

• Pendant and mirror — IKEA
• Quilted bedspread — Anthropologie
• Colas vintage pine console table — La Redoute is similar
• Freya lace curtain — Anthropologie
• Green wall lights — Habitat

• Aurora mirror — Oliver Bonas
• Shelving — Red Candy UK 
• Bath painted in Benjamin Moore “Ciao Bella” — Victorian Plumbing
• Wall tiles — Claybrook Studio
• Radiator painted in Benjamin Moore “Ciao Bella” — Cast Iron Radiators 4 U
• Wallpaper “Palm Tree Glades” — Miss Print

Thanks, Shona!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
Share your style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form