Her home would not look out of place in the glossy pages of some famous interior design magazines. Yet single mom Emma Parkes renovated her rental cottage on a budget of just 2,000 pounds (approx. $2,600), doing all the work herself.
When 49-year-old Emma and her two children, Poppy, 18, and Ralph, 8, moved into their new house in August 2020, it was painted entirely in magnolia. But Emma, who works full time in special-needs education, wanted the family’s home to be a happy, color-filled place.
Located on a small farm on the outskirts of a Shropshire village in England, the three-bedroom semi is a “Duke of Sutherland” cottage, a house style typical of the English county. Ready to let and in sound condition, Emma immediately saw its potential.
“I’ve always had an interest in interiors and felt that, although the cottage was beautiful, it would still benefit from some fresh decor and style,” she told The Epoch Times.
The lounge was first. Emma created a pink and green palette and began her hunt for secondhand, vintage furniture. Sticking to a budget, she scoured eBay and Facebook Marketplace for the perfect pieces.
Later, she switched the green wall for red, creating a more earthy palette, and will soon be lime-washing the window wall for a chalky, textured effect. With the cottage surrounded by fields, Emma loved the rural outlook.
“I took my curtains down and replaced them with a plant hanger so I could still see the lovely views,” she said.
Hanging plants and flowers are everywhere, and Emma adorns the space with her own floral murals.
“In the kitchen, I drew and painted my first mural, and used pinks and turquoise as my color palette,“ she said. ”I used an old ladder to hang from the ceiling where I have hanging flowers.”
Emma, who suffered a shocking bereavement, says having the project to focus on has been a lifesaver.
“I lost my dad suddenly two weeks before the first UK lockdown, but transforming my home has been great therapy for me.” she said. “I am extremely proud and very surprised by how much I’ve accomplished during a very tricky time.”
The revamp started as soon as Emma and her son and daughter moved in, and is still ongoing. Continuing the pink and turquoise color combo, Emma created another mural in her bedroom. Going for a fresh, pretty feel, she painted one wall Miami mint and the rest white.
Emma’s ingenuity is on display throughout the house.
“I have a feature shelf above the bed, which is wood that I found on the side of the road!” she said. “I have another plant hanger at the bedroom window so I can enjoy the views.”
Removing the carpet and painting the floorboards has breathed new life into her room; something she says she’d also like to do in the hall, and up the stairs.
Emma confesses it has been a challenge to keep on top of projects while working full time and parenting single-handedly, but trying to take things in her stride helps.
“Reassuring myself that work on my home is not a race has allowed me to achieve my goals as and when I can,” she said.
Emma says she’s also had lots of love and support for the work she’s done, particularly her hand-painted murals. She started an Instagram account when she moved in back in 2020, and it has “grown quite quickly.”
The whole makeover so far has cost approximately $2,600, including furniture. How has she managed to achieve such a transformation for so relatively little?
“Most of my paints are by Leyland or Dulux. I have recently been gifted some paint from Lick,” she said. “My home accessories are from The Range, H&M or vintage secondhand shops, and businesses online. Some of my accessories have been gifted.”
The talented mom says anyone can take an adventurous approach to decorating their home. “Don’t be afraid to experiment with ideas, and be brave! Don’t hold back,“ she said. ”Nothing is permanent, and if it doesn’t turn out as you want it to, you can easily remove it, or paint over.”
Does she have a top tip?
“Always look for pieces of furniture second hand as the quality is often just as good as brand new, and less than half the price,” she advised.
This year, Emma plans to revamp the tired bathroom by painting the tiles, replacing the glass shower door with a retro-feel circular curtain rail, and putting down some fresh floor vinyl.
“I also want to decorate my son’s bedroom and start work on the garden”, she said.
If Emma set out to create an uplifting, cheerful home, she has certainly realized her dream.
