All in the detail

Starting out with what was a dilapidated bungalow, Ellen Sharpe has blended a classic New England look with a French farmhouse vibe

- JO-ANNE COLETTI, KAREN WILSON

Living room

An eclectic mix of French, Swedish and farmhouse décor showcases Ellen’s creative ideas. ‘Most of the furnishings here were repurposed pieces that I found second-hand or even for free on the side of the road,’ she says.

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Reproduction Mora clock, £495, Nordic Style London, has this look Ellen Sharpe, a content creator and blogger (@featherglass), and husband John, who runs a property maintenance business, live here with their daughter Kenna, 18, and two West Highland White terriers, Scotty and Sprite.

THE PROPERTY

A three-bedroom 1920s bungalow in New England, USA.

THE VALUE

Bought in 1996 for £76,000. Now worth around £500,000.

“I love the symmetry, large windows and pretty millwork. Mixing in some antique pieces makes a huge difference too”

When first-time buyer Ellen Sharpe saw this rundown two-bedroom 1920s bungalow, she was on familiar ground. ‘It was just 10 houses away from where I grew up,’ she says. ‘I remember it needed a lot of work, but it was the cottage-like exterior with the front stone chimney that really drew me in. From the moment I set foot inside, I was compelled to bring it back to life.’

Ellen and husband John spent a year making the bungalow liveable, tackling further improvements as time and money allowed. ‘I come from a large family and the interior space needed to work for gatherings, so we opted for an open-plan layout,’ says Ellen.