I love my Victorian-style drawing room with a twist

Karen Cook chose dark walls, mural wallpaper, jewel-coloured furniture and fun jungle accessories to elevate the period look of her living room

- Karen Cook

Karen Cook and her husband, Stuart, knew they had finally found their dream home in this Victorian property. They both loved its original features, large rooms, and the potential the place had to become a forever family home. Plus, they felt motivated to take on a renovation project, having previously owned a new-build. 'We bought our last house from a developer and all the work had already been done, so this time I wanted something I could really put my stamp on, without worrying about who the next owners would be or whether or not it would add value,' says Karen.

THE PROJECT

This space is in the middle of the house, bookended by the dining room and playroom, so Karen decided that it would make the perfect cosy living room. However, this presented some decorating challenges.

'We originally planned to leave this room until the kitchen and bedrooms were decorated as it's a slightly awkward space, being in the middle of the house with no windows,' explains Karen. 'But once the previous owners' furniture was moved out, we realised the floor was in such a state that we were spurred on to decorate this room first.'

WHAT WE DID