At Home with Rachel @bluebellsandfeathers

This week we are at home with Rachel, the lovely lady behind the very popular home and lifestyle instagram account @bluebellsandfeathers where she shares beautiful images of her self-build Georgian style home and keeps us up to date with her day to day life.  Read on to find out more...

 

Tell us a bit about you

I have a natural devotion to all things home, interiors and living. Our home is a five year old self build nestled in the Co. Down countryside beside our family dairy farm. Our area is very rural and surrounded by rolling countryside with views of the Mourne mountains.

 

Tell us about your home

Our home is a story and a half, built 5 years ago on family land and it is very Georgian in style. We obtained planning permission based on replacing an existing dwelling home. Therefore we tried to echo and recreate styles and tastes of years gone by such as external coach lighting, period railing and sliding sash windows.

 

How would you describe your home?

Our home is a mix of country with modern touches. For example our kitchen has deep inframe cabinetry but with crystal handles.

Our main design approach was to include deep skirting boards, panelling and intricate cornicing. When selecting finishes we thought of even the smallest detail right down to toggle light switches and selecting a French fuel stove.

 

Which is your favourite room in the house?

The sunroom is our pride and joy.
It was designed by ourselves but inspired by Mrs Crawley’s sitting room in Downton Abbey. It has floor to ceiling panelling, a Godin stove and blue hues in terms of the colour scheme.

 

How does your home reflect any passions or interest?

We have a deep appreciation of old houses and the character they share. As such we tried to incorporate this through the cast iron spindles, Victorian style floor tiles and roll top baths.

 

 What are your favourite items in the home?

We are so grateful to have our AGA cooker. The slow oven is a saviour on so many occasions and it adds character to our kitchen. I also adore our colourful floor tiles in out en-suite and back hall. Pops of floor colours add a little character throughout.

 

When you moved into your house was it the finished article or was it a project?

We moved in with no blinds, concrete floors in the hall way and just one sofa. It definitely took time, money and sacrifice to reach our current stage of comfort.

 

Have you done any renovation or DIY?

We undertook absolutely no DIY work ourselves, we are both extremely occupied with our work and we equally prefer to let the professionals work their magic.

 

Have you had any DIY or styling disasters?

Not yet!

 

What is your top home styling tip?

Choose what you like. I say this all the time and it may seem like an odd suggestion but don’t pick something because a sales person is suggesting it. If someone says ‘this is very popular’ it does not mean it is to your taste.

 

Is there anything in your home that you couldn’t live without?

Our underfloor heating brings luxury living to a whole new level. It is efficient, long lasting and has freed all walls of radiators.

 

They say that every home tells visitors a story about who lives there. What do you think your home says about you?

I hope our home says that we work hard for every element and appreciate every detail.

 

 

The Home Edit

 

Lived-in look or showhome?

Showhome

 

If you could only paint your walls one colour, which one would it be?

Duck egg blue

 

What is your pet hate when it comes to your own or other’s homes?

Don’t have one. Everyone has their own taste as long as you pick your choice enjoy it.

 

Favourite front door colour

Pink

 

Carpet or Floorboards

Both carpet in a bedroom

 

Kitchen table dining or formal dining room

Both

 

High gloss or rustic

Both

 

Wallpaper or Brick Walls

Both

 

Want More?

If you enjoyed being at home with Rachel, 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" interviews here

Rachel's instagram account is well worth following and can be found at @bluebellsandfeathers