At Home with Hannah Russell

We are excited to welcome Hannah Russell to the blog to share her lovely home with us today!

"We moved into this house in Peckham, South London about a year ago after completely renovating the whole place. It had been a student house before and everything was quite tired, so we knocked down some walls to open up the whole living space and painted everything in a beautiful, neutral pale blue grey. The foundations of the house are the neutral walls and flooring, and this allows the beautiful colours of all the vintage furniture and accessories to really pop and stand out.

"The open plan living area is just such a beautiful space to be in and it really works. I'm so happy with the grey industrial-style kitchen and love collecting gold antique items to decorate the shelves behind the sink. I'm like a magpie, absolutely obsessed with anything shiny and gold.

"I spent a lot of time at antique fairs and early morning markets to furnish the house. My Mum and I have always been interested in the markets, and I love buying things with character. I've tried to furnish the house in different layers, the foundations are all quite neutral and newly installed, but I've slowly accumulated and added vintage and antique pieces to give the space a personality. These different styles and textures work together and create the happy, light-filled space that we live in! I believe that antiques and vintage items don't have to be dark and fusty. They can be incorporated into a modern home and these contrasts are what gives some interest.

"My favourite piece has to be the bronze metal rose candelabra in the dining area. It's an old French piece and just looks beautiful from every angle, like a piece of art in itself. When we have people over for dinner, I buy some very thin white candles and light it all up as the table centre-piece.

"But it's the courtyard that is the real triumph of the house. It was a dark, dirty area before and felt as if nothing would ever fit in there. We decked the whole space and created a different level. Then painted everything white. It makes everything feel so much bigger, and I love the way the vintage mirrors on the fence reflect back and give you a feeling of depth. The wall of herbs is a little depleted at the moment after the winter, but we're working on building it back up again—it's such a luxury to be able to pop out for a handful of basil or coriander."

Thanks so much for sharing your space with us, Hannah! To see more of Hannah, you can visit her blog and follow her on Instagram. xo