Homes We Love: A glitzy living room in a Victorian home

Victoria Nicol

@westendstyling

Commercial Manager with a passion for interior design

Victoria Nicol’s home has always been her sanctuary. And if you’re a fan of her Instagram page @westendstyling it’s not hard to see why - her Victorian home is full of sophisticated details; from glamorous wallpaper, to snug textiles and a mix of decorative accessories. First up in our new Homes We Love series, discover how this commercial manager in the oil and gas industry transformed her Aberdeen home into a lively neutral space perfect for her and her gorgeous Maine Coon cat Skye.

Victoria’s interior style: neutral and timeless

Describing her personal decorating style as ‘timeless, transitional and neutral’, Victoria has always had an interest and passion for interior design for as long as she can remember.

“I always base my designs in my home on what I love and not what’s on-trend, or what I think will appeal to others,” she says. “My home has always been my sanctuary, so it’s always important for me to create that feeling in each of the homes I’ve owned.”

Adding a boost to her living room decor

Victoria’s love of neutrals inspired her to create decor that was far from forgettable. “It can take just as much skill to create a neutral design scheme that works and doesn’t feel one dimensional,” she says. “Liven neutral spaces by using multiple shades of similar colours and adding different textures both in wall coverings as well as soft furnishings.”

She also believes it’s best to make the most of the key areas of the room. “Know what your focal points are for the room and give them ‘space’ to shine whilst ensuring all the other pieces are in place. Adding a cohesive mix of decorative accessories to bring the whole scheme together is also key to keeping it balanced and doesn’t become too ‘busy’.”

Victoria’s favourite rooms at home

The open plan living and dining rooms are Victoria’s favourite spot in her home and we can’t help but agree with her. “The size and proportions of the spaces together make it a fairly grand room,” she says. “I retained all the original period features including high ceilings, deep skirtings, ornate cornices, ceiling rose, open fireplace as well as the original stained glass and sash windows. Combined with the decorating and styling I’ve added, it never ceases to fill me with happiness.”

How she gave wallpaper an unexpected twist

Victoria wanted to make the fireplace wall the main focal point of the living room so she used Harlequin’s Hortelano in Moonstone as the feature wallpaper. Based on goose-grass stems, the pattern was designed by Clarissa Hulse and is from their Summer 2016 Callista Collection.

“I took the bold move of hanging it upside down because if hung the right way, it would have meant the majority of the pattern would be lost behind the fireplace and alcove,” she says. “I absolutely love it and I won’t be changing it any time soon! The wallpaper on the other three living room walls is a very subtle matte-gloss contrast (almost like a cloud) by Zimmer & Rohde called Flair from their Identity Collection and matches seamlessly against the colour of the Harlequin paper.”

Photography by Victoria Nicol