Lauren Hubbard, 31, has transformed her bland new build into a luxury on-trend home.
The Mum of 2 runs successful home Instagram @homeofgetkooky for what she describes as her ‘quirky & colourful home’ in Hull, East Yorkshire.
“I started a ‘home’ Instagram account initially to track my own progress and to show off my efforts to family and friends who couldn’t visit” as she moved to her partner’s home town in Hull just before the pandemic hit.
This funky home was revamped for under £10k and the difference is astounding. Her bathroom alone was done on a small budget of £350 and is seen to be one of the most drastic makeovers in the house.
Lauren spoke with Insulation Express on her renovation:
“Our bathroom has had a complete makeover and looks like a completely different space. It cost me, including all the accessories – £350” she explained.
How To Recreate This Bathroom In Under £350
- Wall Covering/Bath Panel Vinyl – Get Kooky
- Enhet Mirror Unit – Ikea (Spray painted gold with rust oleum)
- Paint – Valspar
- Gold leaf border – Annie Sloan
- Under Sink Cupboard – B&M (painted)
- Floating shelves – Homebase (painted)
- Wall Prints – Oh So Daisy, Printed Weird & Nanas of Anarchy
- Quirky, fun accessories – Wild One Interiors and Love at number 18
- Disco Ball – Amazon
“Pretty much all of our house has been accessorised using these same businesses,” said Lauren.
“The whole home has been a gradual process that we are decorating slowly as and when we can afford to do it as we don’t have the capital for big payouts. In total it has cost £10K so far but a large amount of this is due to our furniture choices and we were basically starting from scratch after previously renting. As for the decor, that has only cost around £1500.” Lauren said.
“As soon as I saw this house, I could immediately see the potential of being able to impose my own style upon it and could begin immediately with no outlay for repairs and renovations.”
This interior fanatic is on a mission to show that your average new build can be transformed into something stylish, colourful and extra-ordinary. The mum of two owns the business, Get Kooky, an online shop for self-adhesive decorative vinyl.
Insulation Express asked Lauren what her interior design style is: “Fearless! I love vibrant colours, patterns, bold designs and I am very experimental. Getting maximum effect for the least money possible. I am not afraid to try different combinations, if they don’t work you can always change them. It also partly depends on the season I am decorating in.”
“I went for a mint green in the bathroom as I was creating a ‘Miami vibe’ and with it being mainly enjoyed by the kids. I knew they would love the nice bright colours but equally, it’s perfect to wind down for a soak after a busy day with some candles.
“I wanted a Miami vibe bathroom, probably because during this pandemic I have been craving going abroad and holidaying in the sun so I recreated my own paradise to escape to!” Lauren explained to Insulation Express.
Marc Hardy, from Interior Design and Architectural consultancy Space I.D., spoke to Insulation Express and said “Over the past year there has been a movement towards botanical colours and a 60s Miami vibe. Shades of pink proving prominent.”
Insulation Express’ recent research revealed the top 10 colours being searched for over each season.
According to Jenny Turner, property expert at Insulation Express, “Our research shows that warm exotic shades of pink, pale pink, and mint green are on trend this summer 2021. It also found that both light and dark shades of grey are popular all year round and should be complemented by those trending colours each season”.
Jenny continued: “Lauren is a great example of how these bright and summery colours can be paired with our reliable shades of grey and black to transform your home massively from something boring and bland to wonderfully shocking.”
Lauren said, “Pink and green is my absolute favourite combo – gone are the days of ‘Pink and green should never be seen’ I think they contrast but at the same time complement each other.”
“I painted our living room a dark green because I wanted to create a calm, elegant and cosy dark space, that we could enjoy, particularly on an evening once the kids have gone to bed with dim lights and candles. The pops of pink bring a sense of warmth, fun and love.”
“Colours impact greatly on our mood, bright colours can be very uplifting. We don’t always get the best summers in this country, so bringing bright colours into our homes, particularly into those rooms we use a lot on a daily basis, can brighten even the dullest of days. It can also bring a sense of summer inside and really lift our spirits. That might be particularly appropriate this year as many people are opting for staycations rather than going abroad.”
