03333 201 801Saved QuotesVisit UsSign in
Get FREE fabric samples - 0/8

Add Swatch

Add Swatch

Add Swatch

Add Swatch

Add Swatch

Add Swatch

Add Swatch

Add Swatch

Interviews

In the bedroom with... Tilly Ball

Words by  Sophia Freeman

February 22, 2023

Share:
Interiors obsessive Tilly Ball is documenting the process of her first home renovation on Instagram - warts and all. With our Rose divan bed featuring in her gorgeous master bedroom, we caught up with Tilly for a candid discussion on the process of restoring a traditional Victorian home to its former glory...
Hi Tilly! How did you go about finding your first home, and what kind of condition was it in?
The house was found on Right Move. As soon as we stepped through the front door, we knew it was the one; the original, beautiful Victorian floor tiles in the hallway sold it to us!

At first glance the property looked in good nick, my partner Jamie and I knew we’d need to replace the kitchen and everybody that saw it said something along the lines of “oh, it just needs a little re-decorating”. Covid restrictions at the time meant that we could only view the property once before putting in an offer. Little did we know, under several layers of wallpaper there was years of damp, woodworm and rot which meant we had to do a lot of remedial work before any of the fun decorating could begin!
During the renovation process, have you ever thought you’d taken on more than you could handle?
No, we both have the mentality that if you put your mind to something (and spend a ridiculous amount of hours researching it) you can do anything. There was certainly times I wished we’d got a smaller project for our first home but we’ve learnt so much from this place and it’s given us a real insight into home renovating that I think will be invaluable in the future.
What has been your most difficult renovation obstacle? And how have you overcome this?
I can’t think of a specific job but one thing I would say is, be aware of 'reno fatigue'. It creeps up on you and renders you totally unable to make a decision. I’ve made a few choices in the house out of shear exhaustion, that I think could I could have done better on. The only way to deal with it is to try to take a break but that’s not always possible when you’re living on a building site. I made sure we had a room to relax it throughout the renovation and I think that did us some good.
How did you decide on the direction of the interior design for the bedroom?
I let the bed guide me. When we received the fabric samples from Button & Sprung 'Duck' was an obvious winner. It was completely out of my comfort zone but with the help of Pinterest I created a mood board based around the bed. There’s two ways I usually go about designing a room, I either want it to be contrasting or complementary. The latter always feels more traditional and assessable to me and that’s why I went with the eggshell blue walls and warm walnut furniture.
What drew you to our Rose bed? Why the design and colour?
I was drawn to the colour straight away and the design is so extravagant and luxurious. I wanted a bed that would stand the test of time and I think the shape really lends itself to that. I haven’t used blue anywhere else in the house so it was a bit of a curve ball but it's such an interesting shade that I thought would accentuate the Victorian features of the room.
You love vintage finds and antiques. Talk us through some other pieces of furniture in the bedroom?
My favourite piece is my dressing table. It’s a victorian mahogany writing desk but it works great as a dressing table. I couldn’t believe my luck when I found it, it’s in perfect condition. We also have an interesting little Edwardian piano stool in here, it’s mahogany again and fits perfectly in an awkward gap next to my side table.
Any tips on securing a great vintage buy?
I love travelling and I'm a sucker for homewares, so when I'm away I try to bring back little items for the house that trigger fond memories of our stays. This is true for the kids’ rooms as well as elsewhere in our The main places I buy are eBay, Facebook Marketplace and through thesaleroom. The trick is to be consistant when looking, especially on Fb Marketplace as stuff goes really quick. When it comes to auctions, always go and look at the item if you can - if you can't make it to view, a condition report should come with the listing.
What room is next on your agenda?!
We’ve pretty much finished all of the rooms, but there's a long 'snagging list' to get on with which is my least favourite part of renovation life. Currently we're working on the front garden - doing a very budget friendly revamp. Follow me on Instagram to keep up to date with the progress of that!