I knew this house could be transformed
After discovering that her ‘Victorian cottage’ was in fact a 1980s build, Janice Issit saw past the décor and unlocked its true potential
Feature Natalie Osborn
GOOD IDEA
Repurpose items such as an over-mantel mirror to create a stunning feature wall instead
Although Janice’s home may look extravagant, it’s actually full of fantastically inexpensive finds and cleverly-disguised budget buys. ‘I think that some people spend far too much on furniture from high street chain stores, particularly on sofas,’ she adds. ‘The one under the mirror in the living room is an Ikea sofa bed, but it’s so covered in throws and cushions that you wouldn’t know’
Welcome to my home
A bit about me
I’m Janice Issitt and I live here with my partner, Ian.
Where I live
My home is a three-bedroom house in Buckinghamshire.
What I wanted to change
The house was only built in the 1980s and had the décor to match, so we changed absolutely everything.
How I made it my own
For starters, I painted all the dark wood white (on doors and stairs, etc), changed the flooring from concrete to reclaimed wood, installed a Victorian fireplace, made the bathroom bigger (we lost a bedroom) and fitted a brand new suite.
My favourite part
I really like the cast iron Victorian fireplace in the lounge. It was such an amazing find and really looks like it is original to the house.
My house
‘My attitude to décor is, you wouldn’t dream of wearing the same clothes from ten years ago every day, so why should your home?’