‘I adore using BOLD COLOURS'

Renovating her first home gave Gemma the opportunity to properly explore her style and to create an eclectic look that’s filled with fun and bursts of colour

- GEORGIE RODGERS

COME ON IN!

ABOUT ME I’m Gemma Gear, 29, a TV design producer and interior stylist @thatssogemma, thatssogemma.com. I live here with my partner Tom, 31, an accountant, and our cocker spaniel, Digby.

MY HOME A two-bedroom late Victorian terrace in Worthing, West Sussex, bought in August 2019.

WHEN WE MOVED IN It was lacklustre and dated, with yellow laminate, magnolia walls and an avocado bathroom suite.

AND NOW We gutted the kitchen and bathroom, painted everything white, then added colour and pattern to create a decor that’s characterful and unique.

STYLE TIP I try not to be too matchy-matchy or dwell on current trends, but simply fill my house with things that I love.

We weren’t planning on leaving our rented flat straight away, but when our landlord gave us two months’ notice, we weren’t left with much choice!’ says Gemma. ‘So, we took it as a sign to buy our own place and moved in with Tom’s parents while we scoured the market.

This Victorian terrace was about the twentieth property we looked at, and it was just down the road from our old flat. The interior hadn’t been touched since the 1970s, with yellow laminate flooring downstairs, Artex ceilings and magnolia walls. However, we loved the original wooden doors, original wooden flooring upstairs and the two gorgeous fireplaces. I knew that all it needed was some TLC and an injection of colour – along with a total kitchen and bathroom revamp!

First steps