Hannah (@minimalhouseandhome) is the queen of minimalism. It’s no surprise that she has a rapidly growing fan base on instagram, for not only is her home a minimalists dream but it also exudes function, comfort and style. With a mutual love for interiors and design, Hannah and her husband (together with their miniature schnauzer Penny) recently transformed their 1970’s bungalow into a modern two-storey home. Having previously worked as a footwear designer, creativity has always been a huge part of Hannah’s life, so it was great to talk to her about how she channels this into her interiors, where she finds her inspiration and the highs and lows of such a big renovation.

Tell me about your interior design journey.

I've always been obsessed with homes, I think the passion started when I was younger. I absolutely loved watching Grand Designs, it fascinated me how people built their own homes. I've always been 'arty', it was my favourite subject at school and I studied it at university. I think living in a space that is visually attractive and aesthetically pleasing is so important, so when we renovated this house I became a little addicted to Pinterest and how I wanted the house to look.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE?

I think my instagram handle sums it up! Minimal is definitely the look that I go for. I've always been in to the scandi style as well, raw materials and neutral tones are what I'm drawn to when looking at interiors, and I hate clutter! Our friends and family always call our house the show home, because we both hate anything being out of place or on show that shouldn't be. I love having a clear and tidy space to relax in so our furniture, accessories and styling mirror that.

You've done an amazing job transforming a 1970's bungalow into a beautiful two storey home, what was your favourite part of the renovation?

It was our first renovation project, so all of it was pretty exciting. I think the process of the new roof going on was a massive turning point. It only took a year from start to finish, but whilst you're in it, it feels like forever! So when this went on, it kind of felt like we were nearly there.

Following on from this, what was the biggest challenge in renovating and how did you overcome it?

My husband worked every evening and weekend on the house, which was challenging in itself. Taking it on whilst also working a full time job and then working all of those hours, was a little crazy. We did most of the work ourselves, so that was tiring! I think also seeing the bigger picture. When you're there every day, it seems like you're not making progress, so trying to step back and see the transformation was sometimes difficult. Photographing and comparing definitely helped with this along the way! I didn't have an instagram account back then, so I think if I did, that would have helped me even more!

What were the most important design elements that you wanted to achieve in your home, both aesthetically and practically?

We always wanted a bigger kitchen with some kind of open space. Our old kitchen was tiny, so this was the main focus point of the house to start off with. We wanted something that would stand the test of time, and not be to trend led. I think that's important when designing your home. We also wanted neutral tones throughout as well, again, to create something timeless, especially if we came to sell the house in the future. I think that's also important to consider.

What advice would you give to someone who is trying to achieve a scandi-minimalist look in their home?

I think creating mood boards is key when designing any style of home. I researched and gathered images of everything I loved that fit the style I was after. That way you can gather inspiration for materials, colours and furniture which give that 'look' that you're after. For the scandi style, I think white spaces make a massive impression. Keeping it simple with modern shapes, neutral tones and abstract art can definitely help!

IF I AM ON A BUDGET BUT WANT TO UPDATE MY HOUSE, WHAT ARE THE FIVE THINGS THAT I SHOULD INVEST IN AND WHY?

The kitchen! You spend so much time there, it really does become the heart of the home.
Comfy sofas. Yes, we all want something to look good, but there's nothing better than a comfortable sofa to relax on each day!
Storage space. We have a big area under our stairs filled with everything that we don't want to see, things like the ironing board and shoes, you definitely don't want to be on show if you're after the minimal look!
Mirrors. They create light in spaces that need it and can make rooms look twice as big if you get a bigger style. We have a huge one in the lounge which practically doubles the space through reflecting the room, we do this in every house.
A high quality carpet or floor. We went for a berber carpet that has a good texture in it, if you're walking around rooms in the same place every day, they can soon become worn and look tired. I think they really smarten up a space and if you invest in a good one, you won't need to replace it in years to come.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE...

Design Trend: I think we've summed it up that the scandi-minimal style is my vibe. But I also love the softer tones and cosier spaces as well, think Rosie Huntington Whiteley vibes...

Materials: Oak will always be my all time favourite. I just love the natural tone of oak, how it's a little cooler than other woods. I think it also looks great with a nice grain too, something that can definitely add interest to a space.

Interior Shops: I think shopping the high street is great to get started. There are so many shops that now have amazing homeware pieces, H&M and Zara Home are two of the best. But I also love independent businesses, We Are Trouva are probably my favourite for finding more unique pieces. HUH is also great for stocking brands like Ferm Living, another favourite. I also LOVE House Doctor, they have amazing pieces that just fit my style perfectly, their instagram is just the dream.

Who are your favourite accounts to follow right now and why?

Askogeng - a unique architecture and design studio with the most beautiful kitchens

Atelier CPH - anything from Copenhagen ticks all of the boxes! Beautiful prints and art work.

Montanabelle - A beautifully curated design studio with some of the most amazing spaces that I've come across

Minimalist Berlin - feeds my daily inspiration needs

Laura Seppanen - An incredible interior designer and stylist, I just love everything that she does

September Edit - just the most perfect feed full of interior, products, textures, clothing and the most adorable twins!

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

Over the next few years we are after another project to complete. We want something with a little more privacy and space around us, maybe in a smaller village that opens up on to country side. We would also love to do something a bit quirkier, modern scandi barn vibes spring to mind! It's exciting to think that we could start the process again, but for now, we love our home and what we were able to create, so we're just enjoying the hard work and effort that paid off!

All photographs were provided by Hannah, be sure to follow her interior journey on Instagram!

From 1970’s Bungalow to a Minimalist’s Dream