18th August 2015

Interiors Update: Loft Living

Life - By Alexandra Stedman
Bed: Habitat. Sheets and duvet: Soak & Sleep. Cushion: H&M Home

Although not 100% finished, I kind of figured I’d never quite be ‘ready’. Welcome to our new loft conversion.

There are a few reasons we built upwards – like most Londoners, we couldn’t afford the next jump to the property we wanted (the jump from a 2 bed flat to a 3 bed semi is more than double, there is no ‘middle ground’), we have 2 bedrooms but use the smallest room as a study so we could never have friends or family to stay, and finally (and THE most important to me), I wanted a room which didn’t border anyone else’s walls. Living in a terraced flat has its merits but also its downfalls – those rickety Victorian walls means I have never got the quietest of night’s sleep.
And 3 weeks in sleeping upstairs, I have been pretty much knocked out every night without hearing a sound.
Pyjamas: £95, Desmond & Dempsey at Fortnum & Mason (my FAVOURITE pjs ever. Even better (and cheaper) than Equipment)

We came across some problems, yes (you can read about them here), but despite it taking pretty much a year to get the funds, planning and building work sorted (including a new roof!), I wouldn’t change it for the world.

We went with just one bedroom and an ensuite, we were offered to build 2 bedrooms (and there was even talk of a dressing room for me!) but in the end, we chose to build only what we needed as we didn’t want to outprice our flat within the market (or go too far beyond our budget). We’re planning not to bring clothes, wardrobes or a TV up here to keep it feeling calm and serene – we haven’t put a blind on the skylight yet and I must admit, it really is wonderful waking up to sky and clouds right above my head.
Marble side tables, £179 for two, West Elm (sold out but buy similar here)

As we have compromised with the decor in the flat in the past (we still have the carpets we moved in etc), this was the one room I wanted to get perfect. Clean and white with a Scandi twist, I was meticulous with what I wanted. We had to make a few choices to cut down costs but we are so happy with it so far.

Prints: Rowen Co from Etsy
Trays: all H&M Home. Candle: Miller Harris. Lip balm: Bobbi Brown. Pillow spray: This Works
Lamp: £35, John Lewis

Where We Saved Money


Flooring – we knew we wanted wooden floors but when costs began to spiral, we spoke to our builders who offered to lay down much more affordable pine for us. As we were painting it white anyway, it didn’t really matter.

Bed – we began looking at Loaf and beautiful sleigh beds but when push came to shove, we went simple and clean. This one from Habitat looks far more expensive than its basic price.

Radiator – it was still expensive at roughly £279 but compared to the cast iron ones we were originally looking at, we saved a few hundred pounds with our Alcova one. Plus these are really economic.

Labour – it took a bit longer, but my husband painted the walls and floor himself (we were quoted £1600 for the loft and hallway).

Butler table: £90, Cox & Cox (we bought this for our wedding originally!)
Sofa: reduced to £275, Habitat. Velvet cushions: £6.99, H&M Home. Cross cushion: Primark. Initial cushion: £10, Marks & Spencer. Sheepskin rug: The White Company (buy similar here). Radiator: Alcova at Screwfix. Window: The Green Window Company. 
And yet to be complete…my ‘dressing area’ – I will finally have somewhere to sit and do my make-up
Wearing top: MiH Jeans (sold out). Shorts: And Other Stories (sold out). Espadrilles: £3 in the sale (yes, £3!), New Look

I’ve always wanted a sofa in my bedroom – the idea of chilling in my bedroom and reading a magazine next to the window is bliss to me…

So we’re almost there, if you step outside of this blissful space you walk into plastered walls and an untreated pine wood staircase, but we’re slowly getting there and life is starting to move back to normality. And we love it.

Light: BHS (see all BHS fab lighting here)

By Alexandra Stedman

Fashion Editor, Blogger, Realist

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Comments

  2. Hi Alex, what an amazing space you've created! I've been looking for a window like that – which one is it from the website? Heritage aluminium? Thanks!

  4. OMG it looks FABULOUS! love the scandi monochrome look with touches of colour and texture – when can I move in?! Seriously though well done – it is so Pinterest worthy and swoon-a-licious! Meera x

  6. Oops. Just found it. Missed it in the very first image and kept seeing it in the others and just fell more and more in love with it haha! 🙂

  12. Now…I (think) it was the heritage aluminium casement windows…it took us soooo long to find some that were right – but it was crucial for me not to have generic loft windows. They made such a difference! I'm sure you could always send them a pic of mine? x

  14. ALEX!!!! This is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! you have both done an amazing job! I'll bet it feels like a world away up there! So peaceful and calm! Just wonderful, congratulations!

    Sal xxx

  15. Gosh, that's an amazing space, so serene! Am v jealous. We can't have light coloured sheets due to owning a black Labrador with a penchant for sleeping between us!!

  16. You've just got such a good eye for details like the windows – they do give the room such a different and styled look whereas something regular, you wouldn't notice them at all. And the fact that they are dark frames against such a light setting makes them perfectly "framed" if you will excuse the pun. Love all the prints too, I spotted the See America one on Etsy – the colours are gorgeous.

  19. Thank you – the window was our biggest cost but the one thing I wouldn't compromise on…I actually bought the See America print randomly in gothenberg (!) but it was in the sale and I was about to go to Arizona on a work trip, so it felt authentic!

  20. Thank you! I've been reading Marie Kondo's 'life changing magic of tidying' (as recommended by Sue, above!) – and it has really resonated with me about keeping things we don't need x