Over 250,000 people would no-doubt agree: Alex Stedman, has some serious style. 

This former fashion editor and founder of lifestyle website The Frugality has garnered a cult Instagram following thanks to her ability to make anything she puts together, whether it be an outfit or her living room, look effortlessly cool. 

And with an enviable collection of mid-century furniture, artsy prints and just the right accent hues, Alex makes it look like anyone could copy the on-trend style of her ongoing renovation. In reality, though, it’s a skill few are blessed with. 

“We weren’t looking for a renovation project,” says Alex to Stylist.co.uk. “But, as we really wanted to scale up from a flat to a house we had to get creative. 

“This was the only way we would have been able to afford a space of this size.”

Filled with the type of original features property magpies dream of, Alex’s home boasts an original Edwardian stone tiled floor, gorgeous fretwork and stained glass. 

“The fireplaces are huge – they all come up to my shoulder! It was such an amazing size, we just knew if there was any way we could get this house, we should try,” she continues.

Over a year later and Alex’s renovation is a beautiful fusion of period details, contemporary comfort and thoughtful styling. Here, we attempt to learn her ways and get the inside scoop on how she did it.

What has been your biggest source of decor inspiration?

“The main thing for us was preserving the bones of the original house. We have restored and kept all of the lovely details such as high skirting boards, ceiling roses and most of the fireplaces. So, the starting point for decor was to work around that. 

“The colour palette is simple. I’ve chosen to combine dark colours with off-white to let artwork and furniture be the real pops of colour.”

Which DIY hack are you most proud of?

“I’m a big lover of paint. It’s such an easy and affordable way to change a room, whether it’s painting an old cupboard, walls or sanding and repainting floorboards.

“We painted our side alley with a Farrow & Ball colour match (‘Cornforth White’) and it made such a difference. I’ve also just discovered Frenchic paint which works on most surfaces and has such a lovely finish.”

What has been the biggest challenge?

“We moved in January and had no heating or water. We slept in coats and had to fill a bucket from outside to brush our teeth or fill up the cistern of the toilet every time we wanted to go. It was a really grim time but one you thankfully forget once you move past it.”

Can you pick a favourite room?

“I love our bedroom. It’s such a calming space with big windows. It’s also south facing, so the sun streams in throughout the day and runs through the entire upstairs via this room.”

Alex’s favourite follows for interior inspiration:

Alex’s go-to homeware brands:

Images: Alex Stedman / Instagram