Designer Transforms Neutral London Victorian with Color and DIY in Eight Months
Designer Amelia Deacon-Hunt purchased a 1,688-square-foot Victorian terrace in East London and spent eight months infusing it with personality through warm colors, retro-inspired furniture, and DIY projects. She carefully planned each room, sourcing unique pieces on a budget, with the living room being her proudest achievement. The home blends organic modern and traditional styles.
The living room, which Amelia calls her proudest achievement, features Coat Paint's "Reverie" on the walls and "Factor Fifty" on the ceiling. She sourced the Lavinia sofa from Barker & Stonehouse, while the coffee table came from Amazon and the rug from Kukoon. Artwork was a downloadable Etsy print she had printed onto canvas and framed by Printumo, with a gallery wall light from Amazon above it.
In the primary bedroom, part of a loft conversion, Amelia designed and built vertical panelling herself to disguise a structural beam, framing the bed. She colour-drenched the room in Lick's Pink 02 and furnished it with a Beliani bed and TKMaxx bedside tables. Throughout the home, she combined secondhand finds from Vinted with sale-hunting and extensive Pinterest research to stay within budget.
This story could encourage homeowners to view neutral spaces as blank canvases rather than finished products. By demonstrating that personality can be added affordably through DIY, secondhand shopping, and careful planning, it may inspire more people to tackle renovation projects themselves. It also reflects a broader trend toward organic modern and traditional styles that prioritize warmth and individuality over minimalist neutrality, potentially influencing how others approach home design.