Step inside this dark and moody Edwardian terrace home

Meet Reece, whom you probably know from his Instagram account.

Reece is 31 years old and lives with his husband Paul and their miniature Dachshund, Izzie. Employed as a children’s intensive care & transport nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Reece is no stranger to hard work. When he’s not busy at work, Reece loves to garden, cook and indulge in his passion for interiors and architecture. A self-confessed perfectionist, Reece’s home looks fresh out of a glossy magazine and we’ve been left drooling over his stunning 1904 Edwardian terrace home. @littleedwardian

When they bought the house, they knew they had a lot to do in order to turn it into their dream home. Continuing to renovate over time – Reece and Paul tick off projects as the days off work and budget allows them to. 

Reece describes his style as dark, moody, masculine and maximalist; admitting that he only really discovered this in recent years;

"I love House of Hackney, they are the holy grail of styling and maximalist design. I also get my inspiration from many homes I see on Instagram, magazines and homeware shops. Black is bold and I love, and have always loved, dark colours. I think it’s about embracing and being confident with what you like and don’t like. Walk the streets, note places you visit and things you see on TV – everything is inspiration, as long as you own your own style!"

Learn about maximalist interior design

“Black is bold and I love, and have always loved, dark colours. I think it’s about embracing and being confident with what you like and don’t like.”

Reece & Paul’s latest home DIY project was their lounge and hallway; including the utility cupboard, cloakroom and downstairs toilet. Whilst restoring the original features, Reece also wanted to pay attention to the smaller details; such as quality light switches, plug sockets and wall panelling.

We asked Reece how they decided on the décor and style for these spaces:

"I’ve always loved a dark colour, and drew massive inspiration from the many swanky London bars and restaurants I’ve visited over the years. I’m not opposed to colour; but I like the rich, classic, high-end design that dark colours give off. The deep shades, texture lighting and ambience of these places make me feel so relaxed; therefore, I wanted to try and replicate this feeling within my own home."

“I’m not opposed to colour; but I like the rich, classic, high-end design that dark colours give off. The deep shades, texture lighting and ambience of these places make me feel so relaxed; therefore, I wanted to try and replicate this feeling within my own home.”

Reece loves DIY & home decoration, and finds it really rewarding to be able to contribute to a project (with help from Paul, of course!), and bring his visions to life. His favourite part, being a true maximalist, is the styling at the end; pulling the whole room and design together. Overall, it took them 3 months to complete and they’re over the moon with how it’s turned out. 

Next up on the list is a home extension; giving them a new and larger kitchen space. Reece loves to cook, but currently the kitchen is painted red and he hates red – oh dear! Spending more time and enjoyment in the kitchen is a priority, and he looks forward to creating the perfect setting to invest more time and energy in. 

Reece’s top tips for decorating:

• Start any project off with a mood board of your inspiration and ideas. This is to ensure you know exactly what you’re trying to create, without going off on a tangent 
• Quality paint, finishing and attention to detail are worth the extra pounds… it will bring the scheme together and ensure that ‘high-end’ feel
• Make sure you have a good base to work with – paint doesn’t cover every sin!
• Be sure not to get paint on your plugs, flooring, switches etc. – as it can cheapen the overall finished look of the room
• Frog tape is brilliant for masking edges – I highly recommend it

Reece's Lick Picks

I’m drawn to the paint colour, Teal 02. It’s a warm shade, and makes a subtle statement.

You can find Reece and his beautiful home on Instagram - @littleedwardian.