We were honoured to help transform Gbemi Ikumelo’s new home! See how we transformed this blank canvas to a colourful, vibrant, personality-packed sanctuary that finally feels like her.
When you move into a new build, there is often a disconnect. The walls are perfect, the floors are pristine, but the feeling? It’s often a little… beige.
This was exactly the challenge when we teamed up with the incredible actress, writer, and comedian AND Bafta award winner, Gbemi Ikumelo. Her journey with us wasn’t just about buying furniture; it was about injecting a creative soul into a “safe” space.
Because we were designing every room, Gbemi qualified for our multi-room pricing structure. This discount applies to any project with two or more rooms, significantly reducing design fees so you can allocate more of your budget toward furniture and finishes.
We are committed to delivering high-value results that make professional design a smart investment. If this is what you’re looking for, book a FREE designer call today!
Gbemi’s design dilemma
Moving from a cosy flat to your Victorian dream home sounds like the ultimate goal, but for Gbemi, the reality was a little more daunting. Stepping into the spacious new property with nothing but a single bed and a sofa to her name, the excitement was quickly met with a wave of overwhelm.
“I needed an interior designer because I was so busy. I felt overwhelmed and that I needed to fill this place in because I wanted to enjoy my space ASAP. I needed someone to help me source items as I pretty much just had one bed when I moved in.” – Gbemi
The house itself? A classic “developer special”: pristine, sure, but utterly monochromatic, devoid of soul, and painted in the one colour she couldn’t stand- grey. The harsh palette and metallic finishes made the space feel physically cold. With a busy career and a desire to enjoy her home now (rather than chipping away at it for the next 20 years), plus a desperate need to solve the puzzling lack of storage, she knew she needed a design intervention. And fast.
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Then she found us. Our talented designer Milena transformed this beautiful home into the vision Gbemi was dreaming of.
“I was like, ‘is this too good to be true?’ When you saw my vision, seeing what all the possibilities were with the space – it was like opening a present” – Gbemi
Our design team had captured her voice perfectly. We didn’t play it safe. We embraced the colour, the pattern, and the fun, but we grounded it all in practical, livable design. The result felt both imaginative and real.
The “Before” was a story of grey kitchens and clashing orange office floors. It was cold and disconnected. The “After”? It’s a masterclass in personality.
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Living Room
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One of the biggest transformations took place in the living room. Our Designer, Milena, took the lifeless walls to a theatrical, cosy retreat. The key item for this room was a bold raspberry sofa. From taking the time to scour across the markets and find THE item for the room, Gembi doesn’t need to “buy twice” as Milena and the design team make sure the piece is a long-term investment. No second guessing if it works for the room because it’s exactly chosen with the room, style and the clients vibe in mind.
This investment piece now anchors the space, drawing attention to the vibrancy but fits perfectly within the theme of the room.
We always say, every room should have a WOW moment. For this room the decision was made to make the statement wallpaper to feature on the ceiling as the “biggest art piece in the world.” This allows Gbemi to avoid cluttering the space with other competing art. It draws the eye up, creating instant drama without overwhelming the room.
The egg chair is perfectly placed, and is Gbemi’s favourite spot to curl up next to the fireplace and admire the showstopping piece of the room.
Fancy a quick 30-minute fix? Book a FREE call with one of our designers today—and get that fresh spark back in your space.
Kitchen – Open plan
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The second biggest unrecognisable transformation took place in the open plan, kitchen/living/dining room.
Milena was instantly drawn to creating better flooring within the room as their grey interiors created a lifeless look, the exact opposite of Gbemi’s vibe. The room needed to be instantly warmed up which is why they went with a beautiful oak herringbone.
“In the kitchen, we opted for a smart refresh rather than a costly rip-out, painting the existing cabinets in a calming muted green and contrasting the island in a soft pink to tidy the whole look together. Jewel-tone bar stools in green, pink, and mustard were added to inject just enough playfulness without overwhelming the room.” – Milena
Over in the dining zone, Milena navigated a tricky pillar by installing a space-saving bench and an extendable table, ensuring Gbemi can easily seat eight for dinner parties (grabbing extra chairs from the office when needed!)
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Dealing with a tricky layout is often where the most expensive mistakes happen; without a solid plan, it is all too easy to purchase furniture that disrupts the flow or simply fights against the room’s odd angles.
This is where hiring an interior designer becomes a crucial investment. A professional can see past the obstacles, just like Milena did when navigating a tricky pillar in this dining zone. Instead of losing functionality to the awkward architecture, she installed a space-saving bench paired with an extendable table. This clever fix ensured Gbemi could easily seat eight for dinner parties, like grabbing extra chairs from the office when needed! Proving that with the right expertise, even the most difficult structural quirks can be turned into a functional, brilliant design.
The flow continues effortlessly into the living area near the garden doors, where a mustard chaise sofa, warm timber tones, and a character-filled gallery wall create a cozy, textured retreat. The result is an open-plan space that feels connected, lively, and truly perfect for entertaining.
A quick chat with one of our designers could save you hours of second-guessing. Book a FREE call with an expert today.
Hallway and Office
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A creative sanctuary stepping into the hallway, natural light floods through the glass, illuminating the true creative engine of the home: the office. The journey here begins with a showstopping, one-of-a-kind artwork by Caroline Chinakwe.
“This piece of art is the ‘manifesto of the house’ that sets the tone immediately.” – Gbemi
And sometimes this is all the room needs. We work with our clients’ budget in mind, always. When it comes to smaller budgets, our focus is finding the WOW without breaking the bank. The smaller items can also be the showstopper of the room, and is shown with this artwork in Gbemi’s hallway. Although, artist was picked out by our client, our team advised on colours, sizing – providing a way in which it can work perfectly within the room.
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In a bold move, Gbemi claimed the biggest room in the house for her office, transforming it into both a functional workspace and a “memory wall” celebrating her career. Because we needed to display posters from every one of her projects without the room feeling chaotic, we flipped the script on the colour palette here. Unlike the vibrant jewel tones elsewhere, we bathed the office in a calming, neutral off-white.
This deliberate “visual rest” allows her work to take centre stage and provides a serene backdrop for the dedicated meeting area, creating a space that means business but still feels full of soul.
Transform your interior into a space you’ll love living In
The Cloakroom
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This makeover is full of bold choices, starting with a space completely transformed by an abundance of patterned wallpaper. One of the standout DIY moments involves taking a standard gray cabinet and giving it a vibrant new life by wrapping it in pink vinyl. However, the true showstopper of the room is the bobbin-style mirror that Gbemi couldn’t stop raving about it, describing the piece as both ‘insane’ and ‘beautiful.
The Landing
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Turning a dark corner into a gallery landing can often be neglected, shadowy spaces, and this area was no exception, suffering from very little natural light. Our strategy was to keep the base palette fresh and light to maximise the feeling of space.
But “light” certainly didn’t mean “boring.”
We used the neutral walls as a perfect backdrop to apply loads of colorful art into the mix, making the colours truly pop against the pale paint. It also became the ideal spot to curate a special display of Gbemi’s stunning collection of West African fans, transforming what could have been a dull corridor into a vibrant celebration of heritage and style.
Create a home that’s beautiful, functional, and uniquely yours
The Main Bathroom
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Sometimes, you don’t need a total renovation to change how a room feels. When Gbemi moved in, the master bathroom was a stark, high-contrast “black and white” scheme. It was perfectly functional, but a little cold. Here, the approach was about gentle evolution rather than revolution, because, sometimes, the most budget-friendly move isn’t a full renovation, but a strategic stylistic refresh.
You don’t always need to rip out tiles or fixtures to completely change how a room feels; often, a “gentle evolution” is all that is required to save significant costs. For example, Gbemi’s master bathroom started as a stark, cold black-and-white space.
Instead of a costly overhaul, we utilized styling solutions to transform the vibe: washing the walls in a delicate pink to soften the contrast and layering in personality with funky blinds, curated art, and lush plants. By focusing on these high-impact decorative changes – with limiting construction to just a single practical update like the shower screen – we achieved a completely new, inviting atmosphere without the heavy price tag of a full remodel.
The Primary Bedroom
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The primary bedroom was, in Gbemi’s words, “flipping huge,” but size doesn’t always make layout easy. Our designer, Melena, stepped in to rethink the bed placement, ensuring Gbemi wouldn’t be bumping her head on the eaves and maximising the room’s incredible natural light.
The real star of the show, however, is the stunning Eva Sonaike wallpaper. This was a stellar find by our design team as it was inspired by the vibrant West African Ankara textiles that Gbemi loves to wear. Sourcing such a unique item which fits perfectly is exactly what our services provide.
What started as a single feature wall quickly evolved. She fell so hard for the print that we wrapped it around the corners and onto adjacent walls, even upholstering a custom stool to match!
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Despite the bold pattern, the room remains a restful sanctuary; by positioning the wallpaper behind the bed and keeping the facing view muted and filled with plants, we achieved the perfect balance. Finally, to satisfy Gbemi’s craving for green without clashing, we added a clever bespoke touch: painting the handles of the new built-in cabinetry in a custom green, offering a subtle, stylish nod to the home’s signature colour.
How our remote services worked for a busy lifestyle
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Between acting, writing, and comedy, Gbemi didn’t have the luxury of time. She needed a design partner who could take the reins. However, she admitted to having one big worry: Could a remote design service actually work?
She feared that “remote” meant “you’re on your own,” leaving her with too much to manage. She also worried it might feel impersonal.
Those fears vanished quickly! Gbemi found the process “surprisingly collaborative” and “accessible”. She recalled sending a video message at 3:00 AM about changing curtain colours and waking up to a thoughtful response with new options (sent at a reasonable hour, of course!).
“I loved the ‘dainty envelopes’ of samples arriving. Seeing them in real life allowed me to feel the textures and decide if I wanted to change a colour. It made the process feel real.” — Gbemi
A Home That Finally Feels Like Her
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Today, Gbemi’s home isn’t just a house – it’s a statement. Where once was grey and empty, now lives colour, pattern, and joy. It is a home where creativity can flow, where friends can gather, and where every corner feels intentional.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by a new place, struggling to bring personality into bland “developer” spaces, or just want a home that finally feels like you – we can help!
