A UK Victorian Fixer Upper Is a Gorgeous Mix of Period Details and Modern Finishes
Name: Carla Isolano, my partner and two children
Location: Shrewsbury Shropshire, United Kingdom
Type of home: Victorian Semi Detached
Size: 2849 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years, owned
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We bought a fixer-upper about three years ago. The house hadn’t been decorated for at least 25 years but we saw the potential immediately.
The house is full of beautiful original features like high skirting boards, Minton flooring, sash windows, fireplaces, and beautiful coving. We’ve added paneling to two rooms and hope to do more. We’ve also incorporated a hidden door, which leads to the en suite from the paneling in the master bedroom. The whole house has had an overhaul—two new bathrooms, new kitchen, and laundry room. The floors were stripped back and sanded to reveal their natural beauty.
Our style is a mix of vintage and period with elements of modern finishes and styled with carefully selected antique pieces. We have been sensitive to the age and era of the property and styled it in a way that adds to the period feel of the home. Our budget has been limited and we have had to source items carefully. I designed our kitchen and we purchased it online to cut costs. Most of the furniture we own is secondhand, free, or from charity shops. We have created a stylish home on a budget.
What is your favorite room and why? The drawing room, because it epitomizes the era of the house and has been styled with our favorite antique pieces.
If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? Add more light into the kitchen, open it out with a glass extension and Crittall doors! I’m playing the lottery weekly in hope!
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Modern vintage with antique pieces.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? A vintage ladder used in the bathroom as a towel rack.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Take your time! It’s easy to become impatient but the best houses were not created overnight. Start with one piece you love and build up your scheme from there adding pieces that complement each other. Trends come and go, so for expensive purchases make sure you choose something that will stand the test of time!
Budgets are a pain, but I find I am actually more creative when I have a small budget. Use what you have, upcyle, or rework something in a different way, move things from room to room to lift a space and revive your decor.
This submission has been edited for length and clarity.