A “Featureless” 1990s House Got a Color-Splashed Makeover

“When we first started hunting for a new home, we thought we were looking for a large, nicely renovated period property,” Orima explains. “However, when I saw this property come on the market, I was instantly drawn to it despite it not ticking any of these boxes: It is a quite modern, featureless build on a main road!” 

The blank walls and endless possibilities are what eventually sold Orima on this 1990s, four-bedroom home in a neighborhood north of central Bristol, England. As a project enthusiast, Orima admits that quite quickly, the “DIY cogs started turning.” 

Two years later, Orima and Joel have reimagined the once-basic house into a colorful oasis for her two young children, and dog, Nero, to enjoy. 

“I would describe our new home aesthetic as ‘midi-malistic’ — bold colors, prints, and patterns in calm, deep earthy tones, with newly introduced traditional features, such as molding and paneling, and plenty of brass and gold accents,” Orima says. “Our style draws on features from many eras of architecture and different schools of design, reflecting our eclectic tastes but hopefully drawn together in a cohesive and unique way.”

• Living room — Valspar “Scottish Kilt”
• Kitchen — Valspar “Stormy Days”
• Hallway — Valspar “Agreeable Green” + Wallpaper by Hovia “Pencil Green”
• Downstairs Toilet — Wallpaper by Hovia “Botanist” + Paint by B&Q “Antique Rose”
• Master Bedroom — Valspar “Sienna Sky”
• En Suite Bathroom — Valspar “Sunset in Provence” + Tile Paint by Rustoleum “Serenity”
• Nursery/Toddler Bedroom — Little Greene “Pleat 208”
• Office — Little Greene (unknown shade)
• Guest Bedroom — Valspar “Toasted Beige”

• Coat Hooks — B&Q 
• Shoe Storage — IKEA
• Storage bench and coat hooks — Facebook Marketplace and upcycled
• Stair runner — Richard Oates
• Stair Rods — Amazon Home

• Gray L-shaped Sofa — Made.com (2019)
• Footstool —omemade
• Armchair — Argos (2019)
• Curtains — Dunelm
• Ceiling lights — Lighting Direct
• Rug — Kukoon
• Music Player — GPO
• Lamp & Shade — Pooky lights

• Dining table — Unknown 
• Chairs — Ercol via vintage shop
• Mirror — IKEA
• Curtains — Curtarra

• Bed — Feather & Black (2021)
• Drawer units — Wayfair
• Rug — Benuta
• Curtains — Dunelm
• Light Fitting — Facebook Marketplace
• Abstract wall art — Homemade
• Circular wall decor — Facebook Marketplace

• Hardware — Serene Maison 
• Mirror — Facebook Marketplace
• Soap dispensers — Amazon Home
• Wooden Toilet Seat — Amazon Home

• Rug — Homesense
• Baskets & Storage Unit — IKEA

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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