We caught up with the lovely, and ever so creative, Emily Champion to chat all-things house renovations. Read on for all her tips and tricks, and make sure to follow Emily's Happy Home Diaries over on Instagram for more dreamy interior inspo.
Your top tips for someone embarking on a renovation?
If you’re a perfectionist/have undiagnosed OCD like me, try to not think about everything you have ahead of you as it can feel super overwhelming. Instead, compartmentalise and focus on one room at a time - for example, you’ll want to start off by creating the perfect blank canvas. If you’re lucky enough to have lots of beautiful original characteristics like high skirting, decorative coving or wooden floorboards, please keep them - lucky you! If you are lacking in this department or like in our situation, previous owners have got rid of them *cries*, use it as an opportunity to rewrite history by adding those features yourself. We added moulding to some walls, tongue & groove panelling to others and once you add a new lick of paint with some calming wholesome colours, it feels like a brand new home. This brings me on to my next tip - to begin with, think big not small. By this, I mean it’s very easy to want to buy all of those adorable decorative items and get a little ahead of yourself but it becomes very disheartening when you can’t find a space for those items as your renovations evolve. By all means, grab that stunning vintage vase with both hands but save the rest for the end - the fun part!
My final tip is to invest in quality hardware. Light fittings & cabinetry ties the canvas you’ve created with everything else - joinery can be eye-wateringly expensive so don’t say no to some MDF woodwork so long as you complete the look with some solid brassware. It’s the perfect distraction technique and also a fantastic opportunity to be playful - I’m obsessed with the lobster, crab & fish cabinet knobs by Amuse La Bouche!
The best and hardest parts about renovating your own home?
The hardest part was for sure living in dust - we slept on a mattress in our second room and got our clothes out of a suitcase each day which is definitely a test on the relationship! 40% of our day became a case of talking to builders, going to and from wherever we were working to check-in, buying whatever was needed that day and then cleaning up every evening to keep ourselves sane. Fortunately, we had the most incredible construction team who made the process as seamless as possible - to the point where we enjoyed seeing them each day.
The best part was seeing our vision come to life - it’s a real “pinch me” moment when items you once had on a moodboard are physically in front of you. I certainly underestimated the cost of a renovation project - our flat is very sweet and cosy and despite us both doing well for ourselves, with a wedding on the horizon, we could only do about 60% of it for now. I’m also very particular so it’s highly possible our budget was challenged for this reason too - we definitely could have done the whole flat but it wouldn’t have been to the standard I wanted it. But wow, we’re so so proud - attention to detail is a must and it’s been incredible for all the hard work to pay off. We don’t take anything for granted - being on a risen bed and having a sofa to relax into in the evenings is such a luxury - for context, our sofa was placed vertically in our kitchen for 6 months up until the renovations because the only way to get it in was through the window.
Can you give us an upcycling hack you learnt along the way?
Buy antique and upgrade! We aim to have at least one piece of antique furniture in each room - it’s a great way to get more for your money and you know it’s going to last because it’s lasted 80+ years already! We bought the most beautiful mahogany desk for £100 on eBay, sanded it down and added new drawer knobs - it’s been given a whole new lease of life and it’s totally unique which I also love. Another favourite hack is a fireplace transformation. I’m really into a checkerboard effect, saw a few examples on Instagram and knew I had to recreate in my own way. We ripped out our (sadly non-original) fireplace and decorated it with the most incredible zellige tiles from Morocco. Not only has it opened the room up but it’s made the fireplace such a statement part of our living room. It’s by far our most complemented feature so far...
Your favourite place to find second hand and antique treasures?
The Old Cinema in Chiswick - always has beautiful stock - not always the cheapest but some really rare and special items. eBay - if you know what you’re looking for, this is the place to go for a bargain! Antique fairs but abroad - Nick & I love to travel and pick up treasures on our journey. I love the idea of collecting items that each have their own amazing story from all over the world. Ahead of your trip, do your research and there will always be events on for you to go and attend.
Your favourite Instagram accounts for interior inspiration?
@lucyalicehome
She’s done up her home bit by bit which has been really special (& authentic) to watch. Her eye for colour is amazing and her inspirations are very aligned with my own.
@studioduggan
if I could have someone design my home, it would be them - impeccable taste that will last the ages.
@chalkwhitearrow
All the wholesome vibes - next time I have a hangover, I want to move in for a day. I draw inspiration from so many different accounts with a range of styles, wish I could share them all!
What makes a house a home for you?
Romanticising the little things. Whether that’s the brass trim between your herringbone flooring and doormat that you see every time you step foot into the house - or the four leaf clover matchbox cover that sits so decadently on your coffee book and makes lighting your candle all the more special… turn the “mundane” into memory-provoking moments and happiness will be all around you. I actually saw a jute extension cable the other day and haven’t been able to stop thinking about how stunning that is?!
Your favourite interior trends of 2024?
Intentional clutter - two words you never thought you’d hear from someone with OCD tendencies - as much as I admire a minimalist home, I feel it lacks that cosy, lived-in feel that I personally look for. Autumn/Winter season is the perfect time to embrace this trend - layer layer layer - there’s no such thing as too many cushions or throws in my opinion. Rattan - I don’t know if it’s necessarily a current trend although there’s a lot out there - I am just loving it myself at the moment because I feel like it gives a really calming & peaceful coastal feel - we bought a rattan ceiling light and also a mirror for our bedroom. Combined with our rope wardrobe moulding, it certainly does the job of sending me to sleep each night.
Your favourite ALB pieces?
All of it? THIS is why the end part is the fun part - I headed straight to the Amuse La Bouche website and had a clear view of where I could ensure I had a piece in every corner of my house - ALB are the treasures that make a house a home for sure. My current favourite items have to be:
Poisson Hook Brass - an essential for the back of your bedroom door - a nod to our favourite place in the world: Greece.
Lobster Large Cushion Cover - the iconic ALB lobster - a statement on it’s own but also somehow cosies up with absolutely anything?!
Games Everyday Linen - table cloth, bed throw, games board - such a genius design
Blush Square Tissue Box Cover - suddenly blowing your nose feels quite chic
Wash Your Hand Tea Towel - personally I think this would be wasted as a tea towel so adore the idea of pinning it up in the bathroom or just outside as a provocative way to ensure all your guests are clean!
