The Beat That My Heart Skipped – A blog dedicated to daily design inspirations. By Rohini Wahi.

This home in Tunbridge Wells, England is technically not a makeover before and after – but I think the contrast of its ordinary Edwardian frontage and Parisian loft style interior fit for the pages of a design magazine, is an inspiration for a makeover to say the least!

What’s nice is that I never would have imagined finding a contemporary and design-led home like this behind the doors of this countryside home. Such a delight!

Before

What a lucky lucky little lady the daughter of Ez from Creature Comforts is! On her tenth birthday, the two of them decided to makeover her bedroom to a style more befitting of her age and inspirations.

The room was made over using a sunny and cheerful paint, patchwork bunting, a bed handed down a few generations and five different throw rugs that can moved and rearranged as wanted and machine washed when needed.

After

The walls were decorated using a mix of artwork and inspirations and a gilded mirror sprayed aqua for a grown up but still fun look. Vintage books were added in colours matching the theme of the room.

Before

The doorless closets were covered with curtains and in between are two hooks where Ez’s daughter can hang her pre-planned outfit for the next day!

I don’t ever remember being this cool when I was 10! See more details of the Makeover here.

After

Before

I couldn’t resist this tidy efficient craft room makeover from Robyn of Dog Named Banjo. I am moving home this week and it’s really put me in the mood for sprucing and streamlining my new work area!

After

I love walking past homes with scaffolding outside on my regular routes, and watching the work evolve infront of my eyes. So it was great to see this South West London facelift sent through by Emmy Lou.

A traditional Edwardian London terraced house started off with a slightly tired front door and a coat of cream paint obscuring original brickwork underneath.

Above, you can see the paint being stripped, revealing the beautiful red brickwork underneath.

The final result is a clean looking, up to date London house to be proud of! I love the beautiful grey front door and the stripping of the brickwork highlights all of the original features of the house. What a difference!

Today we have a sweet, sweet look inside the founder of our earlier feature’s brand and one of our upcoming recipe contributors Hortensia of Itsy Bitsy Cupcakes [can't wait for that one!].

Originally from Spain, Hortensia and her family have been living in the London area for the last 10 years. They bought their cottage in South Wallignton Surrey about 4 years ago and although in fairly good condition, it was all beige walls, swirly carpets and outdated gas fires…

Not being great at DIY they decided to paint all walls white [easier] and inject some colour with accessories instead. Most of their furniture are designer purchases [mainly  The Conran Shop], and other things they brought back from travels and from various other shops here and there.

I absolutely love that by looking at the un-asumming sweet country exterior of this house you would not expect the abundance of design delights awaiting inside. Bright Cath Kidston accessories and Marrimekko prints are splashed across the kitchen.

Pendant light shades from The Conran Shop hang above the colourful dining table…

…whilst sofas from the Conran Shop and bright designer accessories form the living area. I think this home is a perfect example of how designer furniture and family homes can exist in harmony!