When we moved my Mother-in-Law into her 2 bedroom flat on the outskirts of Manchester, I knew we had some work to do. The flat had been sadly neglected by the previous tenants – the walls painted in multiple depressing colours and stained with nicotine, the carpeting ripped out, the space clearly grotty and unloved. But as Marjorie’s designated ‘Interior Designer’, I knew it had so much potential to be the perfect home for a lovely 60-something lady.
Brace yourself! This is what we started with.
Granted, it was hard at this point to look past all the negatives in the living area but in fact, with a bit of work and planning, I knew it could be a really special space. The large windows let in plenty of beautiful sunlight, the rooms were spacious, the building quiet and yet conveniently located close to town. The work that was needed was mostly cosmetic and so for the following few months, we got to work.
Cosy grey carpeting was laid, the walls painted in a soft grey colour (Dulux Dusted Moss 2), new lighting was chosen and wallpaper was added to create a feature wall.
We then turned to Oak Furnitureland’s extensive range to furnish the space. The beautiful best-selling Amelia fabric sofa range was the perfect choice for a soft and cosy space for my Mother-in-Law to settle down with a cup of tea.
The sofa and matching Amelia armchair with their deep seats, beautiful curves and tactile grey fabric softened the space, providing texture and comfort to the seating area.
I also chose some pieces from the Natural Oak Range to add some warmth to the space. The beautiful and simple lines of the Cairo Solid Oak Natural Sideboard created a lovely spot near the door to show off some of Marjorie’s accessories and plants and also provided valuable additional storage.
The layout of the room was a little challenging but transforming the small nook at the back of the room into a dining area gave Marjorie a spot to enjoy her dinner or a browse on the internet. The gorgeous High Back Grass Dining Chairs add textural detail and warmth while the perfectly-sized Hudson Square 2 Seater Dining Table in Natural Oak was an ideal fit in this snug spot.
The Oakdale Nest of Tables in Natural Oak were also chosen and divided around the room, used as a perfect side table along the sofa and the other two are currently being employed as plant stands. These little tables are so versatile, however, and can be used for additional surfaces when my Mother-in-Law entertains – in fact, the tables are so sturdy and well make from solid oak (as is everything in the Natural Oak range) so can easily be used as small stools in a pinch!
The entire space was finished off with complimentary pieces and some new artwork to adorn the walls to pick up the soft grey, pink and green colour palette.
The potential of this once neglected flat has finally been realised and Marjorie couldn’t be happier with her new look space. The Amelia sofa and armchair and the beautiful Natural Oak range have combined to create a warm and welcoming contemporary space that’s easy to live with and clearly loved!
What do you think of this before and after? Is this a space you’d love to live in? Let me know in the comments!
All images courtesy Kimberly Duran / Swoon Worthy and used with kind permission.
