Watercolour artist Lilly Wells rejuvenated a dark and dingy cottage by bringing the outside in with bright florals and fresh colours, putting her own spin on the modern country look
COLOUR-BURST COTTAGE
My story
‘My partner and I were living in a flat, but we were unhappy with the location. So, we decided to move back in with my parents, storing all our possessions in their garden shed, so we could save up to buy a house in an area that we loved. Our new cottage is set on a quiet country lane, and it feels magical to live here.
We got the keys to this property in September 2022, and we started on the renovations immediately. The interior had been painted in black and brown hues, which made it feel very small. With the help of our families, we spent long evenings and weekends knocking this house into shape. It was so tiring but worth the effort.
We started by pulling up all the carpets and lino and knocking out the fireplace brickwork. Then, we pulled down walls upstairs so that we could turn the separate WC and shower room into a larger bathroom. Hours were spent stripping wallpaper and peeling thick layers of paint off the skirting boards! We would dump the debris into our front garden, then load it up into James’s van and take it to the tip.
Over the next two months, we installed a new bathroom, updated all the floors, replaced all the windows with uPVC sash ones, installed new radiators, and fitted a wood-burning stove in the lounge. We went over budget with our renovations, so shelved the idea of replacing the kitchen – instead, my dad and I gave it a £600 budget makeover, replacing the floor, worktop and tap. We renovated the whole house in about four months!
When it came to styling, I went for a colourful, modern country look. I wanted to bring some of the natural world into our home with floral prints, animal motifs and soft pastel shades. I love styling the space to reflect the seasons. Our home fills me with joy, and it makes me feel safe and cosy.’
Welcome to my home
A BIT ABOUT ME
I’m Lilly Wells, 28, and I’m a watercolour artist at lovelilly.art and on Instagram@lillyswatercolours. I live here with my fiancé James Robinson, 31, an electrician, and our two exotic shorthair cats Tommy and Rupert.
