Houzz Tour: From Bachelor Pad to Family Home
A fresh color palette and contemporary furnishings make this new home more comfortable for the whole crew
When family circumstances change, it’s often time for an interiors makeover, and that’s exactly what happened after Lizzie and Andy Campbell married and moved into Andy’s new-build home in Ickenham, England. “Andy lived in the property before he met Lizzie,” says Vickie Nickolls of Interior Therapy, who was brought on board to revamp the house. “So the look had become dated and was a bit too ‘bachelor pad.’ ” Nickolls was asked to make the interior more homey and inviting, and to create a comfortable and elegant family space that utilized every room.
The original oak flooring in the family room is practical and hard-wearing. The black and white striped rug helps liven up the space.
This room also has access to the side of the house, which wraps around to the backyard.
Bookcase: The Great Little Trading Company
This room also has access to the side of the house, which wraps around to the backyard.
Bookcase: The Great Little Trading Company
A subtle polka dot pattern on the walls creates a fun backdrop to a shelf of quirky artwork.
“We wanted to make a feature of the family-inspired prints and so perched them on a shelf,” Nickolls says. “And we wanted to show off the wallpaper without covering it all up.”
Prints: This Modern Life and House Envy
“We wanted to make a feature of the family-inspired prints and so perched them on a shelf,” Nickolls says. “And we wanted to show off the wallpaper without covering it all up.”
Prints: This Modern Life and House Envy
A bright vase in sunshine yellow provides a refreshing blast of color against the dark lamp shade.
Vase: Tesco; lamp: Ikea
Vase: Tesco; lamp: Ikea
With the game room now a busy family space, the living room was turned into a more grown-up domain, where the couple can enjoy time together in the evenings once the children are in bed.
“This room wasn’t used before, and was beige with bright red accents,” Nickolls says. “The owners hated it, as it felt harsh, and they wanted a living room that would be used by them and not always the kids. They wanted it to feel a little warmer and darker, but still fresh and relaxing.”
The solid oak furniture was bought from a local garden center. “It was chosen because of the child-friendly curves,” Nickolls says.
Popcorn rug: M&S; Sophia sofa: DFS; curtains in Forenza Carbon cotton velvet fabric: Romo; Parsons herringbone mirror: West Elm
“This room wasn’t used before, and was beige with bright red accents,” Nickolls says. “The owners hated it, as it felt harsh, and they wanted a living room that would be used by them and not always the kids. They wanted it to feel a little warmer and darker, but still fresh and relaxing.”
The solid oak furniture was bought from a local garden center. “It was chosen because of the child-friendly curves,” Nickolls says.
Popcorn rug: M&S; Sophia sofa: DFS; curtains in Forenza Carbon cotton velvet fabric: Romo; Parsons herringbone mirror: West Elm
The decor and accessories, including pillows from John Lewis, add layers of warm and pale grays to the living room, creating a sophisticated ambience. An ornate lamp base from Dunelm adds texture to the neutral palette.
Wall paint: Plummett by Farrow & Ball; Samantha drum lampshade: John Lewis
Wall paint: Plummett by Farrow & Ball; Samantha drum lampshade: John Lewis
The large, light-filled kitchen is at the back of the house and opens onto the backyard.
“As we were doing the whole house, there wasn’t the budget for a new kitchen, so we invested in family-friendly furniture instead and updated the walls with a different color to create a more lived-in feel,” Nickolls says.
Checked seat cushions from M&S add a touch of pattern.
Wall paint: Mizzle by Farrow & Ball; dining table, chairs and bench: Drift by John Lewis
“As we were doing the whole house, there wasn’t the budget for a new kitchen, so we invested in family-friendly furniture instead and updated the walls with a different color to create a more lived-in feel,” Nickolls says.
Checked seat cushions from M&S add a touch of pattern.
Wall paint: Mizzle by Farrow & Ball; dining table, chairs and bench: Drift by John Lewis
The pop-art-inspired prints are a nod to the family surname and add a touch of lighthearted vibrancy to a corner of the kitchen.
Campbell’s soup prints: artrepublic
Campbell’s soup prints: artrepublic
The kitchen walls are painted in a soft shade of gray-green.
Shelving unit: Ikea
Shelving unit: Ikea
In the master bedroom, the original black and white palette was swapped out for layers of neutrals, including a backdrop of stone-painted walls offset with a subtle geometric-print wallpaper.
“I love the bedroom, as it’s the biggest change from what it was before. It has such a calm and relaxing feel, exactly what the clients wanted,” Nickolls says.
Storage was also a priority, and the designer suggested a large triple wardrobe, two side tables, a chest of drawers and a tallboy, all from the same line for a unified feel.
Wall paint: Elephant’s Breath by Farrow & Ball; wallpaper: Tessella by Farrow & Ball; Chelsea bed: The French Bedroom Company; Carrington furniture: Barker & Stonehouse; bedding and blinds: Designers Guild
Need more bedroom storage? See these clever solutions
“I love the bedroom, as it’s the biggest change from what it was before. It has such a calm and relaxing feel, exactly what the clients wanted,” Nickolls says.
Storage was also a priority, and the designer suggested a large triple wardrobe, two side tables, a chest of drawers and a tallboy, all from the same line for a unified feel.
Wall paint: Elephant’s Breath by Farrow & Ball; wallpaper: Tessella by Farrow & Ball; Chelsea bed: The French Bedroom Company; Carrington furniture: Barker & Stonehouse; bedding and blinds: Designers Guild
Need more bedroom storage? See these clever solutions
The spare room was transformed into a bedroom for son Jesse, using a crisp palette of red, white and blue with gingham and chambray denim bedding from The White Company.
The J-shaped wall light from Graham & Green adds a personal touch, while a checked rug from Ikea livens up the neutral floor.
“The little boy’s room was important, as it was his first room where he had a grown-up bed, due to his little brother’s arrival,” Nickolls explains. “He loves cars, so we created a fun motoring decor, but one that will also last.”
Wall paint: Pavilion Gray by Farrow & Ball; furniture: Charterhouse by Aspace
The J-shaped wall light from Graham & Green adds a personal touch, while a checked rug from Ikea livens up the neutral floor.
“The little boy’s room was important, as it was his first room where he had a grown-up bed, due to his little brother’s arrival,” Nickolls explains. “He loves cars, so we created a fun motoring decor, but one that will also last.”
Wall paint: Pavilion Gray by Farrow & Ball; furniture: Charterhouse by Aspace
Nickolls also created a reading nook for Jesse.
“He loves books and it’s a nice retreat for him,” she says.
Picture ledges: Ikea
“He loves books and it’s a nice retreat for him,” she says.
Picture ledges: Ikea
The original heavy oak furniture in Tianna’s room was upcycled to give it a modern-vintage look that’s fresh and light. The bed was painted a vivid blue to make it stand out, while the rest of the room is in chalky white.
“The bespoke name above the bed is made in the same material as the Roman blinds, but in a different color,” Nickolls says.
Bed paint: Provence by Annie Sloan; wall paint: Pure by Annie Sloan; Roman blinds in Daisy fabric: Clarke & Clarke
“The bespoke name above the bed is made in the same material as the Roman blinds, but in a different color,” Nickolls says.
Bed paint: Provence by Annie Sloan; wall paint: Pure by Annie Sloan; Roman blinds in Daisy fabric: Clarke & Clarke
A striking pink mirror from Marks & Spencer, bedding from Accessorize and decorative accents add to the colorful look.
Twinkle lights: Cable & Cotton
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Twinkle lights: Cable & Cotton
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Who lives here: Lizzie and Andy Campbell; 12-year-old daughter Tianna; and sons Jesse, 4, and Jude, 2
Location: Ickenham, Middlesex, England
Size: Five bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designer: Vickie Nickolls of Interior Therapy
Interior designer Vickie Nickolls needed to rethink Lizzie and Andy Campbell’s house — to soften the edges and make it more family-friendly while also sticking to a budget.
“They weren’t utilizing all the rooms because they didn’t like the decor and weren’t comfortable,” Nickolls says. “But the biggest challenge was to complete the house in a short time, as Lizzie was pregnant with Jude — so we had to get it done quickly too!”
Nickolls turned the game room at the front of the house into a family room and playroom, a relaxing place that everyone can use on a daily basis. The room has a modern, monochrome scheme for a fresh, clean feel, while primrose and turquoise pillows from M&S and Tesco add contrast and interest.
A dark pendant light from Habitat complements the decor and adds a slight industrial feel.
Sofa, coffee table and rug: Ikea