Living areas: After

The easiest way to update the space was to take to it with a paint roller (which we didn't end up doing until around a year later). All of the walls throughout (including the purple dining alcove) have been painted with Dulux Image Tone Quarter - a very light grey-blue to complement the carpet. We decided to use red as an accent colour for accessories throughout, in addition to black and white.

As the living room is very large, we decided to bring the sofas into the centre of the room to leave more wall space for bookcases (of which we have quite a few!). We also brought the space together with a Flokati rug (Ikea). Rather than introducing a coffee table, we opted for two Lack side tables (Ikea). Warmth was added with some black and red cushions, and a cotton throw rug for winter (KMart).

The old dining table was replaced with a replica Saarinen Tulip fibreglass table (Matt Blatt) and white Panton chairs (eBay). We wanted to bring some personality into this space as well, so we bought a white display case (Ikea) for my 1980s-90s doll collection (New Kids on the Block, MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, Boy George and Peter Andre). To make the space multi-functional (and to make use of the extra phone port), we put a small laptop table in the corner (Ikea).

We have not yet tackled the beige vertical blinds on the large sliding doors which open onto the balcony (where guinea pigs Gracie, Poppy and Harriet live). The long-term plan is to have dark timber plantation shutters, but in the meantime the blinds will be replaced with some nice curtains.