Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Reversible Rental Revamp Makes a Family Home
Interiors blogger Hayley Stuart turned her rented cottage into a comfy, unique home. The best part? It's all reversible
It takes a skilled eye to see the potential in an unfurnished rented home, but when interiors blogger Hayley Stuart moved into this farm cottage four years ago, she had the creative vision to see what the space could become with a little love and attention. Fast-forward to today and the ‘magnolia’ rented house has become a characterful and cosy home for Stuart and her family.
When Stuart and her family moved into their rented farm cottage in Hampshire in 2013, it was in good condition, but, like many rented homes, was rather lacking in personality. It had been painted magnolia throughout and, as Stuart puts it: “It was just very bland.”
“Being tenants means we can’t make any structural changes, but we are allowed to paint and make other decorative updates,” she says. “As such, I have updated almost every room in the house (multiple times) and it really feels unique to us now.”
“Being tenants means we can’t make any structural changes, but we are allowed to paint and make other decorative updates,” she says. “As such, I have updated almost every room in the house (multiple times) and it really feels unique to us now.”
“The living room was the first room I properly decorated,” Stuart says. “I based the colour scheme on a photo I found online of a wedding table dressed with deep autumnal hydrangeas and vintage brass candlesticks.”
The sofas were the first purchase Stuart made, and they set the tone for the rest of the scheme. “I did think about painting a feature wall in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Green Smoke’,” Stuart says. “But once the sofas arrived I changed my mind and decided to go all white and let the furniture and accessories do the talking instead.”
The sofas were the first purchase Stuart made, and they set the tone for the rest of the scheme. “I did think about painting a feature wall in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Green Smoke’,” Stuart says. “But once the sofas arrived I changed my mind and decided to go all white and let the furniture and accessories do the talking instead.”
In keeping with the rich tones of the living room, the dining room has a similarly dramatic feel thanks to a smokey grey feature wall and a dramatic black chandelier.
Vintage finds and salvaged treasures add extra layers of interest and character to the space, and Stuart’s shopping skills ensured most of the items were affordable finds.
“I went to car-boot sales and searched Gumtree for unique vintage pieces,” Stuart says. The rug was about 5 pounds (AU$8.70) and the tea-chest side tables were about 10 pounds (AU$17.40) on Gumtree.
Vintage finds and salvaged treasures add extra layers of interest and character to the space, and Stuart’s shopping skills ensured most of the items were affordable finds.
“I went to car-boot sales and searched Gumtree for unique vintage pieces,” Stuart says. The rug was about 5 pounds (AU$8.70) and the tea-chest side tables were about 10 pounds (AU$17.40) on Gumtree.
The weathered dining table was made by a carpenter using antique scaffold boards. A scaffold-board shelf above the bench complements it.
One of the real standout features of this room is the chandelier, which Stuart made herself using approximately 4,000 beads. “It was hard work, but fully worth it,” she says.
Stuart’s dad made the window shutters in the dining room, and they are one of her favourite elements in the space.
“I think they absolutely make the room,” she says, “and this is now my favourite place in the house.”
“I think they absolutely make the room,” she says, “and this is now my favourite place in the house.”
The kitchen is one of Stuart’s more recent makeovers. “I put it off,” she says, “because we obviously don’t own the property and although I’m sure our landlord would have loved us to put a whole new kitchen in, for obvious reasons that was not going to happen.”
The biggest change Stuart made to the space was to upgrade the floor with a herringbone-patterned vinyl floor covering.
The biggest change Stuart made to the space was to upgrade the floor with a herringbone-patterned vinyl floor covering.
Two other clever hacks that Stuart used in the kitchen makeover were to replace the cupboard handles with homemade leather pulls, and to cover the existing tiles with tile stickers for a fresh and colourful new look.
Both updates can be reversed if required, but they instantly modernised the space and gave it a fresh new look.
Both updates can be reversed if required, but they instantly modernised the space and gave it a fresh new look.
This creative corner in the kitchen is another showcase for Stuart’s artistic skills. Against a backdrop of Farrow & Ball’s ‘Down Pipe’, Stuart has created a feature wall using aged wooden spoons to frame two vintage-style prints and a mini calendar. As well as creating an interesting visual feature in their own right, the spoons also give a fun nod the culinary nature of the space.
Stuart’s home is peppered with unusual vintage-style accessories, such as this perpetual calendar. They have helped transform it from a blank canvas into a family home. “My favourite places to buy homewares are antique and vintage shops,” admits Stuart. “They are filled with treasures that have helped to give our home lots of character.”
Other changes in the kitchen include a new door painted in a pretty pink. It leads to the utility room.
This utility room (seen beyond) used to be a cold and uninviting space. “It was a no-go zone, apart from quick trips out there to put washing on,” Stuart says. “It had a stone-cold concrete floor and bland veneer benchtops. It ended up being a dumping area for cardboard boxes and was just a bit depressing until I gave it a makeover.”
The space has had a smart, budget-friendly makeover and has gained a whole new lease on life.
“I knew I had to stick to a budget because although we don’t have any plans to move just yet, we know this house is temporary,” Stuart says. “So I covered the benchtops and cupboard fronts with removable self-adhesive stickers and got a brand-new carpet off-cut for the floor to warm up the space.”
“I knew I had to stick to a budget because although we don’t have any plans to move just yet, we know this house is temporary,” Stuart says. “So I covered the benchtops and cupboard fronts with removable self-adhesive stickers and got a brand-new carpet off-cut for the floor to warm up the space.”
Stuart gave the room a fun edge by really embracing the botanical trend. “It also meant I could incorporate my love for plants into the space,” she says.
The master bedroom has also been revamped a few times since Stuart moved in. “I’m in love with boho style,” she says, “and the bedroom felt like the perfect space in which to create that relaxed feel. I love colour, so I collected lots of boho-inspired scatter cushions for our bed from Next and Ikea.”
A vintage Persian rug, sourced from eBay, warms up the floor and ties the room scheme together.
A vintage Persian rug, sourced from eBay, warms up the floor and ties the room scheme together.
“My inspiration comes from all over the place,” Stuart says. “I love mixing old and new, and I think this has allowed me to make our home unique. Upcycling is also a huge part of our decor – I love creating a new purpose for an old item.”
Other boho touches include a macramé plant holder and woven baskets, as well as plenty of leafy plants in terracotta pots.
“Our bathroom was my most recent project,” Stuart says. “After using tile stickers in the kitchen, I knew they would be a great option for here, and I managed to find some Victorian-style ones on eBay. The results were incredible, and the space has been transformed from a dull and clinical room to an inviting sanctuary.”
Stuart also brought in plants to liven up the room and requisitioned a vintage ladder from her husband’s work to serve as a towel rail.
Stuart also brought in plants to liven up the room and requisitioned a vintage ladder from her husband’s work to serve as a towel rail.
The children’s rooms have been decorated with just as much care and creativity as you would expect from Stuart. Rex’s room, shown here, has cheerful wallpaper and a fun camp bed.
“I tried to avoid going with things that were current to their interests as they move on very quickly,” Stuart says. “Instead, we chose more timeless themes that the boys could get involved with.”
“I tried to avoid going with things that were current to their interests as they move on very quickly,” Stuart says. “Instead, we chose more timeless themes that the boys could get involved with.”
Mack’s bedroom has a woodland theme. A tent with a faux-grass rug inside makes a fun addition, along with toadstools, a leaf garland and a scattering of garden gnomes.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hayley Stuart, her husband Jordan, their two boys, Rex and Mack, and French bulldog Arthur
Location: Hampshire, UK
Property: A 1930s farm cottage
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms