This month we are delighted to welcome guest blogger Michael Johnson-Ellis to talk about the renovation of his home study and snug.
Together with husband Wes, Michael runs Two Dads UK www.twodadsuk.com where they share their surrogacy and parenting story and offer support to other LGBTQ+ couples who wish to become parents.
“Hi, I’m Michael and I’m married to Wes. We’re Dads to our two children Talulah and Duke aged four and 18 months, who we had via UK Surrogacy, and Bug a Blue Fawn French Bulldog. We’ve lived in our current home in a small village in Worcestershire for six years.
We bought the house off plan so it was a complete blank canvas. Our previous home in London had Karndean flooring so when we first moved in we knew that would be a great choice. We love the quality and just how easy it is to keep clean. It’s also a little softer when the kids trip or fall over. Previously we had tiled floors but now that terrifies me. And don’t get me started on the challenges of carpets and kids!
Above image features AP06 Morning Oak Parquet
When we first decorated this home, we chose Morning Oak parquet from the Art Select range for our hallway and lounge but at the time we didn’t take this through into the snug or home office which we now realise was a mistake. Our taste has moved on and so have the material options so we now feel that it’s time for a new look and we are slowly working our way around the house room by room.
Our style is very much modern and we like to experiment with the latest trends. We’ve previously been fairly minimal and sleek however since having the kids we have found that this no longer works for us so we’ve focussed more on storage with practical flooring and safer surfaces.
We’re fortunate to have plenty of space downstairs. The kitchen remains the hub of our home with our snug as a family TV room and a formal lounge if we want some quiet time. We are lucky to also have a separate study so that we can both work at home without infringing on family space.
Above image features AP06 Morning Oak Parquet
In the home office our carpenter built some cabinets to give us plenty of storage and display space. These have been painted in Hague Blue by Farrow and Ball, a strong shade of blue that looks really dramatic. The Morning Oak parquet flooring now flows in from the hallway and we have added a decorative edging to frame the space and add extra personality. With two desks as the only other furniture the floor has taken centre stage beautifully.
To create a cosy atmosphere in the snug we decided to replace the safe grey and taupe tones with a panelling effect painted in Farrow and Ball’s Studio Green, a deep almost black green that works so well with the warm parquet flooring and bold jungle prints. I’m totally in love with this combination. It’s just the look we wanted.
Karndean flooring has proved to be ideal for family life. It feels cleaner and safer for those little stumbles, trips or spills. Having children, we were having to wet clean the carpets every six months which is an inconvenience and can be expensive. Now we can clean the flooring easily and within minutes everywhere is spotless, safe, smells gorgeous and ultimately makes me smile. I can also get the kids involved which is even better!”
Our huge thanks to Michael for sharing his renovation story. You can follow their tales of family life on Instagram @twodads.u.k
