I spent £30,000 designing my dream home buying second hand goods
A mea woman obsessed with interior design has created her maximalist dream home – a design that combines an eclectic mix of patterns, colours, textures and objects – on a DIY budget of £30; but her husband is not a fan.
Nikki Shore, 55, who lives in Ware, Hertfordshire, has decorated their home with bold wallpapered ceilings, quirky furniture and tasseled lampshades.
The couple bought their three-bedroom house in September 2011 for £235,000, with Nikki quickly taking the reins.
Her husband, James, 43, a car dealership appraiser, was initially ‘nervous’ about his wife’s transformation of their Victorian property – but has since ‘come round’.
The mother of a child, who prides herself on doing things “on a budget,” has bought most of her furniture through eBay and thrift stores.
The couple bought their three-bedroom house in September 2011 for £235,000, with Nikki quickly taking the reins.
She spent around £30,000 on her interior but reckons it would have cost her around £60,000 had she brought the furniture new.
‘I’ve always had an eye for color and a passion for interior design,’ says Nikki.
‘I love mixing colors and pieces that you wouldn’t think would go together at first, but accents of green and pink run throughout the house.
“Love our pink conservatory which brings joy even on rainy days and the living room is charming yet cozy.”
She says upcycling and finding thrifty alternatives to expensive luxuries are “rewarding.”
“My husband has told me that our interior isn’t really his taste, but he’s a good sport,” she added.
“Although I’ve never given him a chance to decorate it.”
“But we compromise, so he can choose our car!”
The kitchen in the photo before it was redecorated. The mother of a child, who prides herself on doing things ‘on a budget’
The pink conservatory in the photo after the transformation. She spent around £30,000 on her interior but reckons it would have cost her around £60,000 had she brought the furniture new
In the photo a bedroom before the transformation. Nikki Shore, 55, lives in Ware, Hertfordshire, decorated their home with bold wallpapered ceilings, quirky furniture and tasseled lampshades
Pictured is the couple’s Miami-themed bedroom after the transformation. Nikki says upcycling and finding frugal alternatives to expensive luxury items are “rewarding.”
Nikki, a content creator and interior designer, isn’t afraid of a splash of color and loves to upcycle bargains to create a dream look for her home.
Her favorite finds include a wicker chair she bought on eBay for £100 and painted pink, adding a pop of pink to the conservatory.
Her chic, vintage sideboard is a lovely addition to the dining room that cost just £250 and Nikki recently upcycled it by painting it green.
Recently, Nikki gave the downstairs doors a makeover with palm leaf vinyl and new door handles that cost her a total of just £70.
The former financial analyst spent 13 years transforming her home into an “Instagram-worthy paradise,” and began documenting her home renovations on Instagram in February 2021.
Unafraid of a splash of color, Nikki (pictured left and right), a content creator and interior designer, enjoys upcycling bargains to create a dream look for her home
In the photo the living room of the couple. For those looking to spruce up their home without breaking the bank, Nikki recommends checking the various second-hand sites regularly
The lavishly stylish dining room of the couple. Nikki hopes her home will provide inspiration to others who want to brighten up their homes
A woman obsessed with interior design has created her maximalist dream home – a design that combines an eclectic mix of patterns, colors, textures and objects. In the photo a vintage sideboard after the transformation
In the photo: Nikki and James’ living room. Nikki enjoys the quirky and showy maximalist design
Pictured is the couple’s quirky bathroom. Nikki says their home was “pretty simple” when they first moved in
She has since been able to turn her social media venture into her full-time job and her Instagram profile now has over 95,000 followers.
Originally from London, Nikki took an interior design course at the age of 36 and qualified as an interior designer before opting for a career in finance.
“It was pretty simple when we first moved in, the opposite of my personal style,” Nikki said.
‘I like to choose a statement and build around it.
“In our living room, we started with the red and green velvet sofas as the focus and then added art, tasseled lampshades and lots of vibrant plants to finish it off.
Some people online tell me “it must be full of dirt and dust” but it’s not!
“Maybe I need to dust a little more than the usual homeowner, but that’s no big deal.
“I know my house isn’t for everyone, but it suits me and my husband just fine.”
Her next project is to put striped wallpaper on the bedroom ceiling – to create a “Beverly Hills hotel look.”
Nikki hopes her home will provide inspiration to others who want to brighten up their homes.
“I’ve definitely gotten braver as I’ve gotten older, but it’s so much fun and you don’t have to spend a fortune,” she continued.
“If you’re just starting to decorate your home, I recommend choosing colors that make you happy.
“You can start with one great piece of furniture and go from there.
“Always get a scroll on Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration, but your real sense of style comes from within, so be original.”
For those looking to spruce up their home without breaking the bank, Nikki recommends checking out the various thrift sites out there on a regular basis.
“There’s a lot more than you might think,” she explained.
“People are selling beautiful pieces that need a new home and if you scroll regularly you can find what you’re looking for.”
Vinterior is a new site, it’s Vinted but for furniture and I’m obsessed with it.
“Find a piece at the price you can afford and then you can upcycle it to match your decor.”
Nikki can be found on Instagram @weeny-victorian-house-in-ware.