House Tour: A Playful Bungalow, With a Fascinating Fusion of Opulence & Eccentricity

As you know, we love sharing the fabulous homes of those who aren’t afraid to stand out from the crowd. You know, the kind that oozes personality and leaves you in awe as soon as you walk through the door. Well, our next house tour certainly does just that! Hayley Brooke has kindly let us take a nosey around her stunning home whilst sharing the inspiration behind how she transformed her dark and old-fashioned bungalow into a bold and daring family home with layer upon layer of opulent and eccentric décor.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and where do you live?

My name is Hayley I’m 41 years old and I live with my 3 children and two dogs in Essex. I live in a 4-bed bungalow sitting on 3 acres of beautiful gardens. I moved here from Highbury, North London nearly 9 years ago. My eldest daughter is disabled and needs round the clock care so moving to a bungalow with lots of space suited us as a family.

What sort of condition did you buy the house in and have you done much work to it? 

The bungalow was in good shape, but it was dark and a bit old-fashioned, so it needed updating and modernising. So, I got to work! Firstly, I had to make a lot of adaptations to make it perfect for my eldest daughter, widening doorways and adding a wet room. Then I ripped out the old kitchen and bathrooms and re-did these. Things happened pretty quickly. Over the next few years, I started to redecorate (which I do A LOT!) and started to develop my own style.

What’s your favourite piece in your home?

I have so many favourite pieces, but my zebra has to be one of them. I’m constantly finding new things- that’s the main reason why I redecorate every room in my house at least once a year and constantly move things around.

 Where do you get your inspiration from?

I draw inspiration from nature and wildlife, it’s hard not to when you look through the windows at the stunning views. I also love history, heavy fabrics and layering of objects to create a picture that will keep your interest, finding lots of interesting things to look at. I love to shop and I’m really good and well known for hunting down some incredible bargains that I can then customise or upcycle to turn it into something unique. Most of the pieces in my home are all upcycled by myself.

 Pulling off such a bold look can be tricky, but you manage to nail it! What’s your best piece of advice for styling/curating a colourful and bold home?

My best piece of advice for pulling off such a bold look is be brave, it doesn’t have to all be matchy-matchy, start with a piece that you love and build on it, layering it up so that the end result is a treasure trove of your favourite things.

How would you sum up your style?

My style is eclectic, glamorous, fun and bold. It’s a fusion of classic and modern, it’s strong, brave and playful. I love rich colours, and opulence.

What do you think the secret to fabulous interior style is?

I think the secret to fabulous interior style is not worrying about what anyone else says or thinks. If you love it, do it!!

Get The Look

Gold Rock On Hand | Leopard Vase | Unicorn Head Wall Decoration | Gold Tripod Table | Marilyn Velvet Armchair | Flamingo Leg Lamp | Green Velvet Cushion | Zebra Print Cowhide Rug | Banana Leaf Wallpaper

So that’s the end of the tour folks, I mean how fabulous?

Has this house tour got your creative juices flowing? We’d love to hear which rooms/homewares in Hayley’s home inspired you.

Follow Hayley on Instagram @hayleyannebrooke for more great opulent and eccentric décor ideas.

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Image Credits: Hayley Brooke

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