After a 200-mile move, this couple turned a bland grey Edwardian home into a riot of colour

When Grace Holiday and her partner Luke James decided to leave London during the Covid pandemic, they were ready for a complete change of scene. 'I'd never lived anywhere else,' Grace recalls. 'London was all I knew, but during lockdown I suddenly got the itch for something new. We started by looking around the outskirts, but then I thought, “If we’re going to start somewhere afresh, let’s really go for it!”’

Manchester had always been on the couple's radar as they had family and friends nearby, and the community vibe of Chorlton, just a few miles south of the city centre, sealed the deal. 'It meant that though we were moving 200 miles away, we wouldn't feel completely isolated.'

The couple left behind a two-bedroom ex-council maisonette in Stoke Newington, and although it was a good size, it lacked the character Grace craved. Their new semi, built in 1912, just after the end of the Edwardian period, should have felt like a dream step up, but this wasn’t the case.

'It had just been renovated but in a soulless way – every single wall was painted the same shade of grey and so many of the original features had been stripped out. It was what I call a "builder’s special,"' Grace laughs. 'Ironically, I would probably have liked it more before they modernised it.'

An oversized fabric pendant from Alice Palmer creates a soft, playful focal point above the table and, along with a natural woven rug, helps define the dining area. Artwork by Sophie Wake and David Shrigley.

So they embarked on a renovation. The early days were intense: 'We camped out in the smallest room with Maggie, our cat, while the floors were ripped up through the rest of the house,' remembers Grace. Luke had come down with Covid the week they moved in, leaving her brother-in-law, a joiner, to step in. 'He was an absolute hero, plumbing in cast-iron radiators, ripping up carpets, putting back the picture rails – we could never have done it without him.'

Soft plaster-toned walls and warm wood flooring balance the darker cabinetry. ‘It’s quite a dark space, so I wanted it to feel lighter and more inviting,’ says Grace

Slowly, the house began to transform. Floorboards were restored, fireplaces stripped of years of paint, and coving and dado rails put back. 'I'd always dreamed of living somewhere with period features,' says Grace. 'Reinstating those details felt like we were giving the house back its soul.'

Grace’s love of red and pink continues through to the bar area in the dining room

As the dust settled, Grace's decorating style began to shine through, which she documented on a dedicated Instagram (@fromlondontomanchester). ‘I'd describe it as colourful, playful and cosy.

Someone once called it "pastel circus", which is my favourite description ever.’ Confident with colour, Grace has drenched rooms in vibrant contrasting shades, painting walls, ceilings and even window frames to match. Pattern is layered through wallpaper, textiles and art, while lamps create defined pools of light in every room. ‘I’m obsessed with lamps,’ she admits. ‘Vintage, pleated, silk, rechargeable… I love them all!’

The living room was the first space to be reimagined and was transformed into a cocooning green snug. ‘I wanted it to feel like somewhere we could really unwind at the end of the day.’ In contrast, the kitchen/diner needed brightening up. ‘It’s quite dark in here, so we painted the walls a soft plaster shade. Adding an island helped zone the space, and hanging a trio of pendants above it means we never have to use the dreaded “big light”.’

The walls, ceiling and woodwork have been colour-drenched in Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke. A pretty pink-striped ottoman, by The House Upstairs, also works as a coffee table. Artwork by Sophie Wake.

Although the modern kitchen units weren’t to Grace’s taste, she added her own stamp with red-painted cabinetry in the alcoves with open shelving, where she displays favourite pieces, and a wall of decorative plates. ‘It’s not my dream kitchen but, with art, textiles and colour, it feels like ours.’

Grace's knack for evolving schemes continues upstairs, where the main bedroom is colour-drenched in terracotta and pink, with pale blue wardrobes and green striped blinds bringing soft contrast.

The golden yellow guest room is another favourite: ‘It feels so bright and energising. I took my time and really considered the colours and pattern choices in here, and it paid off – I love it.’ The third bedroom, which doubles up as Luke's study and a guest space, has been transformed with a soft sky shade on the ceiling and blue-and-white striped wallpaper.

Bespoke alcove joinery provides smart storage and display space, while a new stove adds warmth and focus. Sofa, DFS.

An airy blue used in the bathroom is another bold statement, designed around Grace’s favourite patterned floor tiles. 'Everyone said we'd regret not having wall tiles, but I stuck to my guns. With tongue-and-groove panelling and a freestanding bath, it feels like a proper room, not just a bathroom.' The downstairs loo is the most recent space to be transformed, clad top to toe in playful wallpaper with a matching blind. ‘Guests are always so surprised when they go in there – it’s such a tiny area, but it’s packed with personality.’

Looking back, Grace admits she’s had to learn patience along the way. ‘The biggest lesson was not to rush decisions. I used to just slap paint on the walls and figure it out later, but now I moodboard everything. And if in doubt, a stripe is always the right choice!’

For Grace, the true success of the house lies in how far it's come. 'When we moved in, it had been stripped of everything I love about old houses,' she reflects. 'Now, it's full of colour, character and little quirks that make it unmistakably ours. I'm proud that we trusted our instincts and restored the period charm, and weren’t afraid to have fun with the design. It proves that you don’t need endless money to create a home with personality – just patience, imagination and a willingness to take risks.’

SEE MORE OF GRACE'S HOME

On the upstairs landing, Grace used a deep colour on the woodwork, along with a patterned rug and a wall of colourful artwork

In the main bedroom, warm terracotta and blush tones wrap the walls and ceiling to create a soft, gentle warmth.

Green-striped blinds and cushions add a fresh contrast, drawing the eye to the bay window and bringing a calm, restful balance to the space.

Grace has combined vibrant blue panelling, a rolltop bath with a fun bubblegum pink painted base, mustard floor tiles and striped shower curtains to create a joyful yet timeless look in her bathroom.

The guest bedroom is painted in a golden yellow that feels bright and uplifting

Bold red wardrobes add contrast to the sunny yellow guest room

Luke’s study doubles as a guest room, with patterned wallpaper and a plush velvet sofa bed creating a cosy yet practical space.

The downstairs loo is one of Grace’s favourite recent transformations, wrapped top to toe in a playful horse-print wallpaper by Annika Reed that fills the tiny space with character.

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