Hallway Panelling Revamp

What could a girl possibly want on her 30th birthday in the middle of a global pandemic? No chance of holiday, a big party or even afternoon tea with the girls. So in true THTMM style, I asked for a new hallway. Definitely getting old..

When we bought Baylyn House over 5 years ago, we had one side of the hallway panelled using tongue & grove style boarding (like this) to add some all important character. It made a huge difference, but at the time we didn’t have the money to carry it on up the stairs. The landing was one of the main things that I loved with the massive original stained glass window & the multiple level stairs but up until now I’ve always felt like we didn’t make the most of it & apart from a lick of paint we hadn’t done anything.

Here are some before snaps…

Forever a fan of panelling, I hired a carpenter (Steve Pengelly if you’re local – I really recommend!) to transform the walls using strips of MDF. This is something many people DIY as it’s fairly simple & if it was a flat wall we definitely could have done it but the stairs are so higgledy-piggledy that I’m really glad we called in a professional.

The MDF strips are 10cm wide & were stuck directly on to the walls using glue & a nail gun.

I am a firm believer in injecting character but also being sympathetic to the period of the property & at some point in time the spindles on the staircase must have been replaced as they were quite art-deco style. I was never a fan of them so decided to also replace these at the same time with a traditional Victorian shape & can’t believe what a difference it’s made.

We were finally at the painting stage & I decided to go with Dulux ‘Jasmine White’ (this is the next tone down from ‘Almond White’ which is throughout our open plan living/kitchen area) for the walls above the panelling then used F&B ‘Purbeck Stone’ for the panelling & ‘Moles Breath’ for the staircase. Both are warm greys & compliment each other beautifully. Although I’ve technically gone darker, it looks SO much brighter.

& here is how it looks now! Not 100% finished but it’s there for now…

Flooring wise, I still absolutely love the patterned vinyl (Baroque Lisbon 196) so that stayed but I did end up ripping up the stair carpet & have painted them white using Johnstones Floor Paint for now. It’s a work in progress with the aim to have a traditional stair runner, but as the carpet continues upstairs it will look a bit odd going from one to another (& I don’t really want to replace all of it!) so I’m hoping someone can alter the old carpet in to a runner at some point in the New Year.

Before, we had a console table with a large mirror to the right hand side of the hallway, purely to cover the old radiator which although practical, was definitely not pretty. It’s not really a particularly narrow hallway, but it made it look a lot smaller & took up a lot of space. We’ve been slowly replacing the radiators throughout the house with beautiful column ones which are a real design feature so I decided to swap this one & have more layout options. This is the Milano Windsor double column radiator from Best Heating* gifted.

Now wanting to show off the radiator rather than hide it, I ordered this bargain console table from Amazon in black which sits under the stairs, tucked away. On top sits a Neptune artichoke ornament, a couple of little bud vases with some eucalyptus, a portrait of the house from the super lovely Abi at @drawmydoor & a framed quote print (Desenio as below but not part of upcoming promotion – bought myself months ago).

With the right hand wall looking empty, I went on a mission to find some statement prints or art work to fill the space. These are part of an upcoming collaboration with Desenio who are my first port of call when sourcing for interior design clients & I really recommend. I’ll be sharing a discount code at the end of December so keep your eyes peeled!

These are the prints I went for in the end – three abstract line art figures for downstairs & then two fern posters for the smaller wall upstairs & an ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ (which the husband says looks like the eye test at the opticians…) *gifted.

I’ve kept the old console table upstairs & have ordered a lamp, but for now I’ve popped an orchid & a couple of photo frames (which I need to fill!).

As a lover of side lighting rather than the harsh ceiling lights, I wanted some sort of subtle mood lighting but as with many hallways, lack of space & plug sockets meant lamps weren’t really possible so I found the most ingenious invention ever in battery powered picture lights from Lighting Direct. These are the medium slimline LED in satin nickel & I am SO pleased with them. They show off the frames perfectly, give off a beautiful light & are great quality. I’m going to order 2 more for upstairs too *gifted.

Finally, a new mirror to help bounce some light around & check you haven’t got food in your teeth before you leave the house. This 80cm round mirror with black frame was a bargain at £55 from Dunelm.

I am SO pleased at how it’s turned out & this beautiful old house is now back to it’s former glory. In the New Year I’ll be able to add a few more finishing touches but for now, I hope you like it too.

Love,

*This post contains some affiliate links & gifted products.

32 Comments

  1. Gill
    December 7, 2020 / 6:40 pm

    The changes look so good. I love it ?

  2. Catherine White
    December 7, 2020 / 6:51 pm

    What a difference! It looks beautiful Charlotte x

  3. Jackie
    December 7, 2020 / 9:22 pm

    Looks absolutely stunning. Congratulations you had a vision and you nailed it.?

  4. Susan Lohmiller
    December 8, 2020 / 5:12 am

    Dearest Charlotte!!! Love what you did!!! Although the former hallway was beautiful too, I believe you make something beautiful even more dashing ???. The paint job must have been a nightmare but look at the reward! ? The stairs without the carpet look fantastic I sm very much looking forward as to ho they shall look in the end. Happy happiest birthday ever for you dear Charlotte… have a great time with your lovely family. Warmest possibility regards from Susan ??????

  5. December 18, 2020 / 11:36 am

    This is fantastic, great job on the wood panelling!

  6. Marie webb
    December 29, 2020 / 11:18 pm

    Looked beautiful before, I wasn’t sure about the change , but I love it!

  7. LJB
    January 8, 2021 / 6:57 pm

    I love the way you have made the hallway look both modern and welcoming, yet retaining the traditional features.

    Are your ceilings and area above the picture rail also Jasmine White or plain white? I couldn’t tell from the photos if it was ever so slightly different from the Jasmine White.

    • March 9, 2021 / 7:57 pm

      Hi there, just purchased Jasmine white, it’s a lot creamier than I thought. I’m using it above panelling which I’m doing grey. Would need a whiter colour any recommendations for a warm white?

  8. Chandrika
    February 19, 2021 / 5:47 am

    Hi this is the first time I have read your article. What a inspirational display of work. I am learning things everyday. We are planning to build a house in few months time. But no idea how I need to start thinking of painting and decorating.
    Do you give advice to our sort of projects. Have you got an Instergram page plse? Would love to follow you.
    Chandrika
    Xx

  9. Carla
    February 22, 2021 / 12:50 pm

    This looks so so good! You’ve got such fabulous taste! I know you’ve got a large hallway but can you share what was the rough cost of the carpenter to do this or if he quoted per metre please? I’m trying to work out if I should DIY it or just call in the chap that did yours! My home is much smaller than yours but I’m rubbish at DIY!

  10. Parisse
    March 2, 2021 / 4:46 pm

    Hi how thick are your mdf sheets please

  11. Paul Tempest
    March 7, 2021 / 8:47 pm

    Hi. I am planning similar. Would you be able to advise:

    1) The thickness of MDFused?
    2) The width of the MDF uprights?
    3) The depth of the MDF horizontals?

    Love the original stained glass features by the way.

    • Lorna
      June 17, 2021 / 6:24 am

      Hi did you get the info on this?
      Thanks 🙂

    • Laura
      February 10, 2022 / 7:21 am

      Hi. Did you get a reply as I have the same questions?
      Thanks

      • Charlotte Amor Valentine
        Author
        February 18, 2022 / 2:20 pm

        Hello,
        I’m afraid I don’t have the measurements as this was done by a carpenter x

  12. Darren
    April 3, 2021 / 1:23 pm

    Hi love the new look where abouts are them floor tiles I love them but can’t find anything like them anywhere

  13. May 13, 2021 / 6:34 pm

    Wow I’m so happy I stumbled across this website, this looks amazing!! Lovely transformation!!

  14. Angela Holt
    May 14, 2021 / 9:57 pm

    This looks amazing. Can you tell me what paint you used? eggshell or Matt emulsion?
    I ask because you didn’t board the wall completely and I’m told you need eggshell for wood.

    • Karen
      September 23, 2021 / 12:03 am

      Did you get an answer for this . I’m giving it ago but do not know whether I use normal emulsion on the mdf I panels as well as the walls

      • Charlotte Amor Valentine
        Author
        January 25, 2022 / 9:36 am

        I used normal emulsion but made sure to prime first x

  15. Marie
    June 30, 2021 / 10:44 pm

    It looks amazing and thank you for the battery lights info just what I’ve been looking for.
    Where did you get the ceiling lights from please?
    Thanks

    Marie

  16. Karen
    July 6, 2021 / 9:33 pm

    Please can you give me the measurements of your prints and frames please?

  17. Mel Hanbury
    September 10, 2021 / 8:22 am

    Gorgeous revamp and some serious inspiration for our hallway/stairs/landing renovation. I can see you kept the same ceiling lights and just wondering where these are from? Thank you ?

  18. Neil
    September 26, 2021 / 8:31 pm

    Can I ask where you got the dado rail? Doesn’t look like a dado rail. Is it architrave?

  19. Janaya Mills
    October 20, 2021 / 5:16 pm

    Hi, could you tell me where you got your large white hallway mirror from please.

    • Charlotte Amor Valentine
      Author
      January 25, 2022 / 9:35 am

      It was from Brissi x

  20. Jane
    October 27, 2021 / 12:28 pm

    What size are the frames? What are the lighting pieces called? [Thinking Lowe’s or Home Depot to look]

  21. Chris Bone
    February 7, 2022 / 5:09 pm

    where did you get the panelling from please and your house looks amazing

    • Charlotte Amor Valentine
      Author
      February 18, 2022 / 2:19 pm

      Hello, it does say in the post, it was done by a carpenter so he cut strips of MDF x

  22. Ebony
    March 3, 2022 / 12:29 am

    Hello any chance you know the pain number for your Mole’s breath by F&B paint? I love what you’ve done! X

    • Ebony
      March 3, 2022 / 12:29 am

      Paint*

  23. Angela
    March 9, 2022 / 7:19 pm

    Hi can you please tell me where you got the mouldings that fit on top of the hall panelling please? Looks stunning and very classic. Thanks