I’m an incurable home bargain hunter!

Renovating her 1950s bungalow set Kate Harpum on a mission to seek out the best coastal-style homewares on a very strict budget

Feature Jane Bowles

Welcome to my home

A bit about me

I’m Kate Harpum, I’m married to Roger and we have four children between us, aged between 11 and 19.

Where I live

My home is a fivebedroom 1950s semi, which was originally a small two-bedroom bungalow. We’ve lived here since 2011.

What I wanted to change

Everything! We gutted the interior, replastered all the walls, put in a new kitchen and new bathrooms and extended outwards, as well as upwards.

How I made it my own

I created a coastalstyle interior by whitewashing the walls and using soft greys and blues, then I furnished it with upcycled finds and high street bargains.

My favourite part

I especially like the kitchen and dining area as it’s the family space I aways dreamed I would have one day.

Kitchen

Wicker bunting and clip-top jars strike a vintage note in amongst the kitchen’s coastal styling

To create vital extra space Kate knocked down the old back wall of the house and built a simple single storey extension to accommodate the kitchen and dining areas. She then designed her ideal kitchen to make the most of the new room. The olive green kitchen cabinets were found at Benchmarx Joinery and give the space a modern country feel. The ultimate bargain finishing touch – which creates a real focal point for the room – is the island unit, purchased for just £200 at Ikea.