1930s Living Room Before & After
When we bought are 1930s semi it had been on the market for over a year. It was tired, but with great bones. Two years later and you might not recognise it as the same house. We’ll start with the living and dining rooms which were knocked through to work as one room, but decorated totally differently somehow making each seem smaller.
Living Room – 50 Shades of Beige
The first order of business was to rip out the gas fire, with beige faux marble effect surround (yuck) and replace it with a real one more suited to the age of the house. When we ripped out this fire we found the old hearth underneath.
1933 original fireplace hearth
Bizarrely we had already ordered the exact same tiles, but in green for our new hearth. Ready for the after?
Replacement Hearth 2014
We found the hearth and the fireplace at 20th Century Fires. They do the most amazing fireplaces both old and reproduction. They also custom make hearths. Ours is made from blank ‘biscuit’ tiles from HE Smith the same firm that does the London Underground tiles and they did a custom shade of green for me – what’s not to love? The flooring comes from Floors to Go
More after photos.
Sources: Curtains – Art Nouveau by Bubblitex, Rug – Bhs, Ceramic Light Box – Liz Scrine Ceramics, French Pillow -B&Q, Flower Pillow – John Lewis, Leather arm chair – Made, everything else is from Ebay or holiday.
Moving on to the other side of the room…
What lurks behind all the beige wallpaper
This is the wall opposite the fireplace, after blocking up the door, skimming the walls, moving the radiator and ditching the carpet – shazam! It looks like this.
Source: Four frames – Wilkinsons, Two frames – Arison Gallery, Sofa – Arighi Bianchi, Pillow – Matta, Floor Lamp – Habitat, Dog Toys (how spoiled is the Blog Dog?!) – Home Sense / TK Maxx.
Phew after all those before and afters, I need a drink.
Love that drinks trolley!
Cheers Emma. It’s from Old Mill Antiques in Failsworth Manchester. I just managed to spot one of the hoops peaking out from a pile of furniture surrounding it.
Looks fab. What colour did you use on the walls? A good neutral is hard to find.
Thanks Lindsay, it’s Wickes own brand paint in Calico. It’s that sort of milky coffee colour with a pink tone to it.