We’ve given our home a real burst of colour

7 min read

By experimenting with patterned wallpaper and colour blocking, Poppy Cooke has packed her new-build home full of personality

Feature Laurie Davidson Photos David Giles

BRIGHT & BOLD NEW-BUILD

‘Our living room is super cosy – it was already carpeted when we moved in, and we’ve gone for a velvet sofa and loveseat. The pouffe is from Made but I’ll probably change this for a coffee table at some point’

My story

We bought our new-build house back in 2021 and, if I’m honest, the main draw was its location. Faversham is a good mid-point for both mine and my boyfriend Jordan’s work and we have the perfect balance of village life, being close to Canterbury city and also to the beach.

However, buying a new-build is something I’d never really considered, as I’m mostly drawn to old, quirky houses. We’d lived in a timber-framed property before, but with both of us having busy jobs we didn’t relish the thought of renovating another place. I was unsure about buying a new-build, but the fact we could choose our own kitchen, tiles and flooring helped sell it to me.

Faced with a lot of stark white rooms, I was keen to start transforming it into something that felt more ‘us’. I wanted to add more character to this place – my dream home would be a Victorian house – so I’ve tried to recreate this look with wall panelling, which we’ve added into the hallway and up the stairs. Jordan and I chose some bold colours to bring the place to life and, when we haven’t been entirely happy, we’ve repainted the rooms until we’ve got it right.

I’d still love an old character home and in the future I know I’ll own one, but for now I’m proud of myself for having an open mind and creating a place that we both love coming home to.

style idea

A hanging wall fan will add character to your space alongside framed prints

Welcome to my home

A BIT ABOUT ME

I’m Poppy Cooke, 27, a solicitor. I live here with my boyfriend Jordan, 29, an electrical engineer and our two pet house bunnies, Pepper and Sage.

WHERE I LIVE

A detached three-bedroom house in Faversham, Kent. You can see more of my home on my Instagram page@lovelane_jp.

WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE

We chose a new-build as it meant we wouldn’t have to renovate, but I hated the whiteness of it and was keen to make it more quirky and cosy throughout.

HOW I MADE IT MY OWN

We’ve kept the décor light and bright so that t