My cosy home is a canvas for creativity

A tight budget forced June Olsen to compromise on her idea of a dream home, but the result was even better than she’d imagined

Welcome to my home

A bit about me

Hi, I’m June Olsen, and I live with my husband and our six-year-old daughter, Mia.

Where I live

Our home is a three-bedroom Victorian cottage in Hertfordshire.

What I wanted to change

The house was in a livable condition, but it wasn’t to our taste. The windows are small which made the house seem dark, so brightening every room was my top priority. I wanted a fresh atmosphere.

How I made it my own

I painted the walls in a typical Scandi colour palette of whites and greys, and I refreshed the old floorboards by painting or whitewashing them.

My favourite part

I wouldn’t say I have a favourite part of the house, rather that I love how every space is a canvas for creativity.

Living Room

‘The lounge was the first room I started decorating. I hated the blood-red walls and the tatty faux-Victorian fire surround, and with only one north-facing window, natural light was sparse – making it seem dingy. I painted the walls a crisp white, and the room was instantly brightened. We were going to invest in laminate flooring, but as our financial situation would not allow for such luxuries, I decided to put in some extra elbow grease and sanded back the yellowing pine floorboards and white-washed them. I think the compromise paid off; I’m so pleased with the end result.’