I recently came across Rachael in an interiors Facebook group, and I couldn’t get over how amazing her home looked. I thought you guys would love to see what she’s done with her home, from decorating to upcycling, so I was very pleased when Rachael agreed to an intervew…
M: Hi Rachael, thank you so much for letting me share your amazing home with my readers, as soon as I saw your pictures I was blown away! Can you tell me a bit about yourself to begin with?
R: Hey Michelle, it’s my absolute pleasure 🙂 I am a single mother of two beautiful little girls, living in Sheffield. I come from a big family and am the oldest of five siblings.
I have always had a massive passion for colour and I am absolutely obsessed with redesigning my house in my head. There isn’t a day you wouldn’t catch me with a paintbrush in my hand and paint on my clothes – my kids walk in from school asking what I’ve painted that day. They think I’m crackers. In fact, most people do!
I’m an aspiring Interior Designer, and although I only have two A* GCSE’s in Art, I am always drawing and painting, wether it be furniture, walls, or pictures. And I’ve recently began producing prints of my original artwork which I sell on Etsy.
By trade I am a fitness instructor, personal trainer and nutritionist. I am very passionate about this side of my life as well. Some have compared me to a jack of all trades because I also do bar work and am a qualified beautician. But ask me where the capital of a country is or chuck an algebra question at me and I’m absolutely useless.
I am a very passionate person and I have ideas spinning around my head, day and night. In fact, if you could see the inside of my brain, it would probably resemble my house X1000 🙂
M: I love that you’re completely self taught, doing your own thing and following your own vision. Can you tell me more about your house? What was it like to begin with? How did you get started with decorating and up-cycling?
R: I’ve always been the same. If there’s something I want to do, that I can’t do, I will always try to learn. I can even cut and lay tiles thanks to my Dad?
And yes of course. When I moved in with my ex partner five years ago, the house was beautiful but completely beige. I really did try to embrace it for a while and even went as far as to buy a load of beige and neutral accessories.. I was 22 at the time and was still in the mindset of fitting in.
As time went on, I gradually started to experiment with colour and come into my own.
I’ve had some massively disastrous results along the way, and initially, I started going for darker colours after my beige phase. I would complete an upcycle or paint a wall with paint because I could never afford to buy new things. Then I would like it for a short time before painting over it because I got bored so easily. But I think today I am really starting to find my own true style and I’m loving it right now.
The development of my style in six years actually is probably what some people wouldn’t even have a lifetime ?
M: I think experimentation is definitely the key! What advice would you give to someone looking to introduce colour into their home on a budget, who maybe doesn’t know where to start? Also, can you tell me a bit more about some of your favourite projects? You seem to be a master at up-cycling!
R: I totally agree! That’s definitely how I’ve figured out my likes and dislikes I’ve the years. And I think I started by looking at other people homes and seeing what I liked the look of.
I remember when I first started adding colour to this house, grey and mustard was very in and people were posting their pictures in DIY groups so I began adding mustard and grey. Then I decided to add in blue because I thought the colours went really well together. I started by painting a big Welsh dresser I actually inherited with the house – from the landlords neice ? Because I was on a budget, I borrowed my uncle’s sander and took it back to bare wood. This allowed me to paint it with only emulsion and then wax! Three little tester pots in total. Grey for the backs and blue for the rest. Everyone went mad over it and I loved it.
I also got some mustard and yellow cushions and started phasing out the beige stuff. Then we got a new grey sofa and I added in some red in accessories. I didn’t end up liking the red so in cake pink. Then a navy wall. Then I can’t even keep track of what happened next ? I started my Instagram account and began to see more weird and wonderful homes. More and more colour and I realised that it’s okay to unleash this thing inside me and do exactly what I really felt inside.
But experimentation was definitely key. I only use a paint colour if I feel passionate about it at the time, and I only ever buy something if I can’t leave the shop without buying it. That’s how my style and colour palette has evolved.
Also, I’ve began almost loaning things out to friends and family, because you can always guarantee, I’ll decide to bring it back into my decor at some point, or spray paint it a different colour ☺️
Re the upcycling – that is so kind of you to say. I always pick colours that fit my current tastes, and upcycling is definitely something I’ve never been afraid to really whack some colour into. I usually like to go for a bold block of colour, but if you look at one of my pieces, the mid century multi coloured sideboard, it contains every colour going. That one was very special and took a lot of time. If you look at the inside back, that’s actually cheap lining paper. I drew on the geometric pattern and used water colours to fill them. I planned to do it up to hit a very specific niche market and sell it – but I ended up loving it far too much ?
I source a lot of my furniture for very cheap, and friends, family and people in my village are always dropping stuff off because they know I love to paint. I put that out there and I’m not ashamed to say that – everyone should do the same!
One piece of advice I could give is to never rush a decision. There’s no time limit so you shouldn’t feel pressure at all. It should be an enjoyable collection of moments.
Many times these days, I start something, sit back and think about it for a while, and then continue with my next brainwave, or even change what I’ve already done. That tends to be how my projects and rooms get finished now.. patience. Whereas I used to dive in and rush a lot more, even when I wasn’t really sold on an idea I had just because I was so excited☺️?
M: Fantastic! And lastly, can you let me know what your must-have, and favourite products are for decorating and upcycling? What are your favourite paints? (I saw you mentioned spray paints) and anything else you would recommend to someone trying to get a similar look to their home to yours.
R: Well I always say, as long as I have paint, I can transform anything! If you’re on a budget, keep a few tester pots to hand in your favourite colours – this will always allow you to transform a piece of furniture (as long as you sand and seal well) or do some sort of mural.
Or if you can afford chalk or spray paints, they end up being much more durable. I personally absolutely love Rustoleum’s own brand and it really doesn’t break the bank. They also have a vast array of colours to choose from ?
R: I would also say to get yourselves on some sales sites, save some searches on eBay so you get alerts in the local area. Keep your eyes open for those bargains at all times because you’ll be amazed what you can pick up ? And also, enter competitions on Instagram and look out for big, colourful, prints being offer, or like I did, design and paint your own. You should never, ever be scared to improvise and use your resources ☺️
I actually used lining paper and emulsion for a lot of my first pieces of artwork and they turned out so well that people are buying the prints I’ve recently had done of these!
And just in case you’re wondering, I actually have my colourful A3 prints currently up at a reduced price in my Etsy store. And I have many more, new designs going up there very soon ?
Thankyou so much for asking me to do this Michelle and I really hope I can inspire some people to transform their decor into that that makes your heart sing – just like mine does me ?
M: I do just want to throw in as one last point that you should never be scared of any of the colours out there. Sometimes people think that creating a colourful home means that you have to stay away from colours like blacks and browns but this is certainly not the case! You can incorporate them into your other bright colours to create a beautiful contrast. For example a black rug might be exactly what you need to bring everything together!
You can find Rachael on Instagram and Facebook, and you can also pick up some of her amazing prints in her Etsy Shop.
I recently came across Rachael in an interiors Facebook group, and I couldn’t get over how amazing her home looked. I thought you guys would love to see what she’s done with her home, from decorating to upcycling, so I was very pleased when Rachael agreed to an intervew…
M: Hi Rachael, thank you so much for letting me share your amazing home with my readers, as soon as I saw your pictures I was blown away! Can you tell me a bit about yourself to begin with?
R: Hey Michelle, it’s my absolute pleasure 🙂 I am a single mother of two beautiful little girls, living in Sheffield. I come from a big family and am the oldest of five siblings.
I have always had a massive passion for colour and I am absolutely obsessed with redesigning my house in my head. There isn’t a day you wouldn’t catch me with a paintbrush in my hand and paint on my clothes – my kids walk in from school asking what I’ve painted that day. They think I’m crackers. In fact, most people do!
I’m an aspiring Interior Designer, and although I only have two A* GCSE’s in Art, I am always drawing and painting, wether it be furniture, walls, or pictures. And I’ve recently began producing prints of my original artwork which I sell on Etsy.
By trade I am a fitness instructor, personal trainer and nutritionist. I am very passionate about this side of my life as well. Some have compared me to a jack of all trades because I also do bar work and am a qualified beautician. But ask me where the capital of a country is or chuck an algebra question at me and I’m absolutely useless.
I am a very passionate person and I have ideas spinning around my head, day and night. In fact, if you could see the inside of my brain, it would probably resemble my house X1000 🙂
M: I love that you’re completely self taught, doing your own thing and following your own vision. Can you tell me more about your house? What was it like to begin with? How did you get started with decorating and up-cycling?
R: I’ve always been the same. If there’s something I want to do, that I can’t do, I will always try to learn. I can even cut and lay tiles thanks to my Dad?
And yes of course. When I moved in with my ex partner five years ago, the house was beautiful but completely beige. I really did try to embrace it for a while and even went as far as to buy a load of beige and neutral accessories.. I was 22 at the time and was still in the mindset of fitting in.
As time went on, I gradually started to experiment with colour and come into my own.
I’ve had some massively disastrous results along the way, and initially, I started going for darker colours after my beige phase. I would complete an upcycle or paint a wall with paint because I could never afford to buy new things. Then I would like it for a short time before painting over it because I got bored so easily. But I think today I am really starting to find my own true style and I’m loving it right now.
The development of my style in six years actually is probably what some people wouldn’t even have a lifetime ?
M: I think experimentation is definitely the key! What advice would you give to someone looking to introduce colour into their home on a budget, who maybe doesn’t know where to start? Also, can you tell me a bit more about some of your favourite projects? You seem to be a master at up-cycling!
R: I totally agree! That’s definitely how I’ve figured out my likes and dislikes I’ve the years. And I think I started by looking at other people homes and seeing what I liked the look of.
I remember when I first started adding colour to this house, grey and mustard was very in and people were posting their pictures in DIY groups so I began adding mustard and grey. Then I decided to add in blue because I thought the colours went really well together. I started by painting a big Welsh dresser I actually inherited with the house – from the landlords neice ? Because I was on a budget, I borrowed my uncle’s sander and took it back to bare wood. This allowed me to paint it with only emulsion and then wax! Three little tester pots in total. Grey for the backs and blue for the rest. Everyone went mad over it and I loved it.
I also got some mustard and yellow cushions and started phasing out the beige stuff. Then we got a new grey sofa and I added in some red in accessories. I didn’t end up liking the red so in cake pink. Then a navy wall. Then I can’t even keep track of what happened next ? I started my Instagram account and began to see more weird and wonderful homes. More and more colour and I realised that it’s okay to unleash this thing inside me and do exactly what I really felt inside.
But experimentation was definitely key. I only use a paint colour if I feel passionate about it at the time, and I only ever buy something if I can’t leave the shop without buying it. That’s how my style and colour palette has evolved.
Also, I’ve began almost loaning things out to friends and family, because you can always guarantee, I’ll decide to bring it back into my decor at some point, or spray paint it a different colour ☺️
Re the upcycling – that is so kind of you to say. I always pick colours that fit my current tastes, and upcycling is definitely something I’ve never been afraid to really whack some colour into. I usually like to go for a bold block of colour, but if you look at one of my pieces, the mid century multi coloured sideboard, it contains every colour going. That one was very special and took a lot of time. If you look at the inside back, that’s actually cheap lining paper. I drew on the geometric pattern and used water colours to fill them. I planned to do it up to hit a very specific niche market and sell it – but I ended up loving it far too much ?
I source a lot of my furniture for very cheap, and friends, family and people in my village are always dropping stuff off because they know I love to paint. I put that out there and I’m not ashamed to say that – everyone should do the same!
One piece of advice I could give is to never rush a decision. There’s no time limit so you shouldn’t feel pressure at all. It should be an enjoyable collection of moments.
Many times these days, I start something, sit back and think about it for a while, and then continue with my next brainwave, or even change what I’ve already done. That tends to be how my projects and rooms get finished now.. patience. Whereas I used to dive in and rush a lot more, even when I wasn’t really sold on an idea I had just because I was so excited☺️?
M: Fantastic! And lastly, can you let me know what your must-have, and favourite products are for decorating and upcycling? What are your favourite paints? (I saw you mentioned spray paints) and anything else you would recommend to someone trying to get a similar look to their home to yours.
R: Well I always say, as long as I have paint, I can transform anything! If you’re on a budget, keep a few tester pots to hand in your favourite colours – this will always allow you to transform a piece of furniture (as long as you sand and seal well) or do some sort of mural.
Or if you can afford chalk or spray paints, they end up being much more durable. I personally absolutely love Rustoleum’s own brand and it really doesn’t break the bank. They also have a vast array of colours to choose from ?
R: I would also say to get yourselves on some sales sites, save some searches on eBay so you get alerts in the local area. Keep your eyes open for those bargains at all times because you’ll be amazed what you can pick up ? And also, enter competitions on Instagram and look out for big, colourful, prints being offer, or like I did, design and paint your own. You should never, ever be scared to improvise and use your resources ☺️
I actually used lining paper and emulsion for a lot of my first pieces of artwork and they turned out so well that people are buying the prints I’ve recently had done of these!
And just in case you’re wondering, I actually have my colourful A3 prints currently up at a reduced price in my Etsy store. And I have many more, new designs going up there very soon ?
Thankyou so much for asking me to do this Michelle and I really hope I can inspire some people to transform their decor into that that makes your heart sing – just like mine does me ?
M: I do just want to throw in as one last point that you should never be scared of any of the colours out there. Sometimes people think that creating a colourful home means that you have to stay away from colours like blacks and browns but this is certainly not the case! You can incorporate them into your other bright colours to create a beautiful contrast. For example a black rug might be exactly what you need to bring everything together!
You can find Rachael on Instagram and Facebook, and you can also pick up some of her amazing prints in her Etsy Shop.
A beautiful room. You make great photos