Homes and Gardens / My Place
My Place: Holly and Jim
Tucked away on a quiet street in Bedminster, a pastel flower box indicates the decor inside of the home Holly Morris shares with her partner Jim and son Bob. A part-time lettings agent in Clifton, she credits her years in London for inspiration. “I used to see a lot of nice houses and get ideas,” she says. Jim works at Aardman Animations, although the house is mostly Holly’s domain. “I do the house, he pays the mortgage,” she jokes.
After knocking out a back wall, the ground floor is an open plan haven with a neutral palate. A grey statement wall adds characters amidst splashes of baby blue and pastel pink picture frames and pillows. It’s stylish, but functional. Alcoves and seated storage house their toddler’s toys, a relief for Holly who isn’t a fan of mess.
is needed now More than ever
A colour coded bookcase proves to be an eye-catching detail. “I just quite like it looking uniform,” she says. “It’s got my other half’s lightsaber which he loves. I put it up there so you can’t really see it.”
Smooth marble lines run throughout the Scandinavian-inspired kitchen. More details offer a mix-match of colour and texture to avoid the monotony of monochrome. Hanging light bulbs and mixed metal hardware contrast with more pastel accents. “It’s my favourite room,” she says. “It’s a family space.”
Fitting with the aesthetic for the house, gendered nursery colours weren’t an option for their son’s room. “I painted this when I was really pregnant… I remember my other half was watching the tennis and I hated him,” she says. “I just did it white. We don’t have much colour on the walls because I think it’s better to have it as your accessories.” Instead, a fun-sized teepee, Scandinavian prints and a primary-colour wall of classic children’s books are main features of the room.
The bathroom is a spacious white-tiled affair with grey grouting and a black wall. However, the whitewashed master bedroom is broken up by a new hue: deep teal. White and gold lamps on either side of the bed add sleek sophistication. The benefits of their loft include a double door balcony overlooking their neighbourhood. Views reveal Ashton Court to one side and the Clifton Suspension Bridge on the other.
For Holly, it’s become the perfect family space. “The house works really well now,” she says. “I don’t think we’d want to move.”
Do you have a home you would like to share with the readers of Bristol24/7? Email martin@bristol247.com
Photos by Fiona Burgess
Read more: We want to feature your home in Bristol24/7