‘I’ve gone big on POPS OF COLOUR’

Gemma was determined to make their new home a place that would grow and evolve with their family by adding style and personality

- ZOE BISHOP

IDEA TO STEAL

‘A light, airy spot can double up as a nifty place to dry washing’

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Gemma Coward, 39, a design consultant, and I live here with my partner Robin, a business unit director, 40, and our two children Charlie, nine, and six-year-old Willow.

MY HOME A three-bed mid-terrace house built in 1890, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, that we bought in 2017 (@faffingat34).

WHEN I MOVED IN The house was pretty much a blank canvas that had already been extended. It was ideal as we wanted a project but didn’t want to be knocking down walls.

AND NOW I am influenced by so many different styles that I couldn’t just stick to one – so it’s quirky and eclectic, and full of homemade ideas.

STYLE TIP Don’t be scared to give it a go! I’ve learned how to strip walls and install coving – all from YouTube!

ON THE HOOK ‘The rail was made by a local friend, and I fitted the floating shelf up high to hold books’

We had been living in north London for a few years in a rented home with our son Charlie,’ says Gemma. ‘However, when I discovered I was pregnant with Willow, we decided that a move back to the Midlands would be a better option for us as a family.