‘a bargain bookcase hack made all the difference’

Looking to move from their small three-bedroom terrace, Salma and Stuart Chatto jumped at the chance to buy a bigger home for their growing family. ‘This house had everything we were after,’ says Salma. ‘It had so much more space than where we were previously, with four double bedrooms, two reception rooms, a downstairs office, bags of storage and a huge garden. It was so reasonably priced, we couldn’t believe our luck.’ The house had been built in the 1990s and, although in good condition, was incredibly dated. Having stretched themselves financially, though, the couple had to take on all the work, renovating one room at a time when money allowed, with the living room at the top of their priority list.

THE PROJECT

The room lacked personality, but had great proportions and natural light. ‘We knew with some clever ideas and a lick of paint, it would look amazing,’ smiles Salma. ‘Bespoke, built-in cabinetry was also a must-have for us.’ The couple envisaged cabinets along one wall, either side of the fireplace and television, with cupboard space and shelves for their books and ornaments.

‘We also wanted panelling on the walls to frame our artwork and tie in with the cornicing and ceiling rose details,’ says Salma. ‘A big, comfy sofa was on the list too, and we wanted to make the bay window a spot to relax in with an oversized love seat.’ Salma studied art and graphic design, so wanted to flex her creativity. ‘I adore colour and pattern, so adding bold tones and fun elements was a key part of our vision,’ she says.

WHAT WE DID

The walls and ceiling were prepped and painted in a soft white with a hint of grey. ‘We’d decided to paint the cabinetry in a punchy colour so wanted to keep the walls neutral to balance this out,’ explains Salma. ‘We measured, cut, and fitted mouldings to create the picture panels, plus a dado rail to add character, and laid the flooring as well.’

When it came to the ‘showstopping’ cabinetry, the c