At Home With Faye @faye_home_family
Tell us a bit about you
My name is, Faye, I live in small village in Essex with my husband and three children, and not forgetting Mr Winter, our Maltese dog. Our home was built eighteen years ago and is a detached five-bedroom house.
Tell us about your home
My husband and I bought our original property, which was a bungalow about twenty-five years ago. Sadly, after we moved in, we discovered the bungalow had subsidence. Fast forward a few years and we eventually knocked down the existing bungalow and built our home. It was very challenging and exciting designing our home. Back then there was no social media or internet sites to take inspiration from, just good old fashion books, magazines, ideas from hotels and restaurants etc.
How would you describe your home?
I would say my interior style generally remains the same. I love to mix classic pieces with a touch of something modern. Perhaps an old chest of drawers with a modern vase or a modern piece with classic accessories, and plants.
Which is your favourite room in the house?
The open plan kitchen and living room is the hub of the home. The kitchen was revamped almost two years ago, and I altered the cabinetry from a light cream to a graphite. I dismissed the idea of an island and kept to the round table, which is used daily by the entire family.
How does your home reflect any passions or interests?
As I mentioned I love classic pieces and most of my furniture is either from family members or substantial pieces I have had for many years. I love to create my own art and will always revamp mirrors, picture frames, even make new cushions, and this definitely creates a more personal style.
What are your favourite items in the home?
I have a few favourite pieces, the kitchen table, for sentimental reasons. The lounge coffee table was bought for thirty pounds, which is an absolute bargain and is still a fabulous piece. The mirror above fireplace always attracts attention for its striking yet simple design
When you moved into your house was it the finished article or was it a project?
The original bungalow looked like a dolls cottage and I had so many plans for it before we found out it was literally falling down.
What renovation and decorating have you done?
We lived on site in a caravan whilst our home was built and spent every weekend cleaning the site or moving bricks etc. We have always been very hands on and even today I carry out all the decorating. I will always attempt a DIY task, although this is due to being inpatient!
Have you had any DIY or styling disasters?
No real disasters, as I always stick to classic designs, and add that little extra in some form of accessory etc.
What is your top home styling tip?
Do not follow trends too much. ‘You’ - make your home unique, and if you love a piece of art, a particular ceiling light that is all that matters. Try something new, maybe dark paint or spray an old mirror - just have fun.
Is there anything in your home that you couldn’t live without?
Family aside, my Gaggia coffee machine and my Dyson cordless hoover.
They say that every home tells visitors a story about who lives there. What do you think your home says about you?
Firstly, relaxed and friendly, ‘take a seat and I will make a cup of tea,’ is what I generally say to my visitors. I think our home offers a sense of contentment, perhaps not perfect as I don’t believe everything has to be perfect but cosy and warm.
The Home Edit
Lived-in or showhome?
Perhaps both, I would say a lived-in smart home.
If you could only paint your walls one colour, which one would it be?
White.
What is your pet hate when it comes to your own or other’s homes?
I honestly do not have one, how you live in your home is up to you. I always tidy when others leave! Ha ha.
Favourite front door colour?
Black.
Carpet or Floorboards?
Floorboards.
Kitchen table dining or formal dining room?
Both.
High gloss or rustic?
Rustic.
Wallpaper or Brick Walls?
Brick walls, although I would paint them!
Want More?
If you enjoyed being at home with Faye, you might like to take a look inside other popular home styling accounts on instagram and find out more about the people behind them. You can see more of these "at home with" articles here
You can catch up with Faye's instagram account here. It's well worth a look!