This Bold, Eye-Popping English Home is for Color Lovers

Project by: Jessica Preston of colour+ shape
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom

Jessica Preston’s design firm is called colour + shape. And she’s not kidding. She turned a 1960s Cambridge, England bungalow into a vibrant, contemporary showpiece exploding with color and personality. With citrusy lemon and lime hues in the master bedroom, bright primary colors in the childrens room, and a sophisticated composition of black, white and gray in the main spaces (the eyes need a break once and a while, after all), there’s no shortage of visual stimulation. Whether through the artwork, vintage furnishings or the way the accessories and even everyday items are displayed, the entire home itself reads as a piece of pop art.

From Jessica:

This project’s brief posed the question: “What to do with a 1960s bungalow?” It’s a style not always appreciated as an architectural beauty, but it carries a certain charm. The space provided a blank canvas with fantastic natural light, and the challenge was to create a fun, contemporary space for a young family, while giving the occasional nod to the property’s mid-century origins.

Bold color was the order of the day in the spacious hallway, providing a dramatic entrance and a compact working area furnished with a Habitat desk and chair, and accessorized with an iconic Terence Conran Maclamp No. 8 and vibrant yet functional pegboard.

The living and dining areas prove the impact of an achromatic scheme, with soft furnishings juxtaposing a geometric-patterned Ferm Living wallpaper. Distinctive sculpted textiles and Ben Barker’s porcelain plates adorn the walls, showing that artwork need not be a traditional painting or print. A collection of original Hornsea pottery on the living room bookshelves nods to the aesthetic of 1960s design and complements the surrounding contemporary glassware and ceramics.

The kitchen encourages the display of the everyday and shows that ordinary items can serve as the best decoration. A custom-made pegboard keeps the Joseph Joseph utensils within handy reach while providing a vivid wall of color, and a rescued 1960s wall unit brings life to an understated backdrop of elegant gray tones. Hafele oak door pulls add a bespoke feel to the simple white cupboards, with the retro cooker providing extra work space and a pop of jalapeño red.

Continuing the use of high-impact color, the two bedrooms were transformed into unique spaces bursting with interest and defying the notion of the bungalow as a characterless box. In the child’s room, Marimekko’s graphic red-and-white wallpaper alongside a customized vintage bureau and chest creates the perfect play space to inspire a creative young mind, with ample room for trendy toys, beautiful books and room to grow.

One thing’s for sure: This family and their designer know how to have fun.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful, effervescent home, Jessica!

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