DIY duo Kelly Rowland and her partner Blake Dixon have transformed their semi with textured paint effects, clever upcycling hacks and industrial boho touches
Feature Karen Wilson Photos Katie Lee
BLAND-TO-BOLD MAKEOVER
Welcome to my home
A BIT ABOUT ME
I’m Kelly Rowland, 34, a graphic designer, and I live with my partner, Blake Dixon, 36, a store assistant. You can see more of my home @houseatnumber30 on Instagram.
WHERE I LIVE
Our home is a three-bedroom Edwardian semi in North Anston, Sheffield. I bought it in June 2019.
WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE
It was bland with magnolia walls and cream carpets. Having a tight budget, my vision was to work with some of the existing fixtures and revamp the kitchen and bathroom. I also wanted to add some character with coving and sand the floorboards, as well as creating a focal feature in the dining room.
HOW I MADE IT MY OWN
Painted ceilings, panelling and wallpaper have all added character. My style is different in each room, but each space is connected through my love for texture and plants; they’re a perfect accessory and add a burst of colour.
MY FAVOURITE PART
My favourite room is our loft bedroom as it’s just so tranquil and airy up there. I love being able to see the stars through the skylight window.
My story
Being a solo buyer, it was a struggle to find my first home but after searching for a couple of years I eventually found this three-bedroom Edwardian semi within my budget. I’d been living with my parents in a 1980s detached home and wanted an older property, so the stone exterior was very appealing. I later found out it was from Anston Quarry, the same stone used to build the Houses of Parliament. Although the décor was a bit plain, I could see past it, and I loved the newly converted loft space. Being in a village within five minutes of lovely countryside was another bonus.
Although I bought the house on my own, my partner Blake lives with me. Together we’ve opened a chimney that had previously been bricked up and re-decorated every room in a rustic industrial style, including the kitchen and bathroom. Replacing the radiators with grey cast-iron column designs has also added character.
While my go-to homeware shops are Homesense, JYSK, La Redoute and B&M, I love buying second-hand and re-working pieces we found in the house as well. After paying £126,000 for the property, I’ve spent roughly £8,000 transforming the interior. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and doing most of the work ourselves has been so rewarding.
