Home tour | A minimalist renovation project near Manchester

Today I’m taking a look around the stunning house of designer Bec Kirby (@our_aus on Instagram), her partner Tom and their two beautiful cats, Mochi and Suciu. Located just outside Manchester in northern England, it’s one of the most minimalist homes that I’ve featured to date, but it’s proof that simplicity certainly doesn’t equal boring or uninviting.

Bec and Tom are part way through renovating the Victorian property and prioritise how the interiors feel over aesthetics, letting the space itself do as much of the talking as the items in it. What’s more, they’re doing the project on a limited budget, although you wouldn’t know to look at it. They’ve carried out much of the work themselves, balancing IKEA hacks and DIY makes with timeless investment buys that will last for decades to come. The results are calm and clutter-free, and I love the way the finished rooms are airy yet wonderfully cosy at the same time.

I chatted to Bec to find out more about the house, her renovation journey, where she finds inspiration and more. If you’re anything like me, her answers to my questions will have you nodding along in agreement and laughing out loud in equal measure…

Hi Bec! Please can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and what you do? 

“I’m 27 (very nearly 28) and I’m a designer. I work at a small studio in the Northern Quarter in Manchester and have done for the last three years or so. I lived in Amsterdam for a bit while interning at Concrete Architectural Associates, soaking up every single bit of the industry that I could before moving back and finishing my degree. I’m originally from Blackpool, but I made the decision to move to Manchester to be closer to Tom and that’s where we ended up buying our first home.”

Where is said home, and how long have you lived there?

“It’s just outside the city in a quiet area – close to the countryside but not close enough to make us feel like hill people, so we have the best of both worlds! We’ve lived here for just over two years.”

Have you made many changes since moving in? 

“We’ve actually done quite a lot, but we didn’t really intend to. The house looked OK when we viewed it, however once we moved in we uncovered a lot of problems. We were fairly naïve looking back, but it was our first house and I guess you have to learn one way or another!  We’ve knocked down walls, blocked up doors, re-wired and re-plastered, and we’ve only finished two rooms. We’re moving onto the kitchen next – I’m just mentally preparing myself for another few months of chaos!”

The living room is soothing and uncluttered, with interesting textures (a woollen rug, shaggy cushions, patina’d leather) adding warmth and cosiness. Bec made the artwork above the sofa herself using hospital plaster-cast materials. 

How would you describe your interiors style?

“Very simple. I really like the way a space feels when it’s allowed to just be ‘space’. I don’t like over-crowding and clutter – I feel sometimes it’s nicer to let the room do the work rather than the furniture. I think a lot of my choices are determined by how they make me feel – so long as something makes me feel calm, it’s good to go.”

What does home mean to you? 

“I remember my childhood home and the way it made me feel. Always safe, always happy. That’s what home means to me.”

Where do you find inspiration?

“I’ve always admired John Pawson and the way his designs are so considered yet so unapologetically simple. I also love the work of Hollie Bowden – her eye for detail is incredible and I love the rawness of her design. Both have influenced some of the choices in the house. I also find a lot of inspiration from nature and its textures and tones. We took a trip to Iceland last year and the colour palette of its landscapes has really stuck with me. The tone of the plaster finish on our storage units was inspired by an image I took of a mountain whilst we drove up north to Húsavík for a whale-watching trip (I had never been more excited in my whole life!).”

The dining room is relaxed and inviting, with Danish brand Woud’s ‘Annular’ pendant light forming a focal point over the simple yet striking table. The textured finish on the storage units was inspired by the landscapes of Iceland and has transformed a budget buy (IKEA’s ‘IVAR’ cabinet) into a unique piece. 

What’s your favourite part of the house and why?

“The bedroom, even though we haven’t touched it yet. It reminds me of my bedroom at my family home. The sun rises straight through the window and you can always hear the birds first thing. I can’t wait to start on that room.”

And your favourite piece of furniture?

“It would have to be the Marcel Breuer ‘Wassily’ chair in our front room. It’s a classic. The tubular steel – you just can’t beat it.”

Bec’s favourite piece is the ‘Wassily’ chair, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925 and inspired by bicycle frames. It’s flanked by Woud’s versatile ‘Sentrum’ magazine table and a handmade artwork by Manchester-based May Wild Studio. The architectural nook above it is the perfect spot for displaying carefully chosen accessories such as New Works’ ‘Ripply’ candleholder (or a cat!). 

Where do you like to source items for your home – any favourite brands, designers or shops?

“My favourites include Frama, Signe Hytte, Toogood, Phillipe Malouin, New Works, Ronan Bouroullec, Estudio Persona, Seungjin Yang, Objects of Common Interest, Sabine Marcelis, Robert Haussmann and Brian Thoreen, to name a few! They’re often out of our price range but I’m always looking to them for inspiration. For sourcing I usually look at Archiproducts and my never-ending Instagram feed, and I always keep my eyes peeled when I’m out and about.”

What are your future plans for the house? 

“The kitchen is next on the list. I’m torn between two designs and can’t face dealing with the decision yet, so it’s on the back-burner for the time being. Then the two bedrooms. Then the bathroom. We’re pretty slow though, so I wouldn’t hold your breath – we’ll probably still be renovating in 2030!”

The hallway’s clean lines offset the beautiful period features and set the tone for the rest of the house. The artwork on the wall is another DIY creation and consists of an old canvas covered in a mix of plaster, metal paint and coffee! 

Finally, what’s your top interior-design tip?

“Ask yourself what you want from the space and how you want it to feel. I find this gives the design process structure and makes it easier to achieve an end goal. Oh, and always design for yourself. No-one else is going to be sitting in your living room for seven evenings a week watching back-to-back episodes of Friends, so make sure it’s a space that you want to sit in.”

Great advice! Thanks Bec!

See more of Bec’s beautiful home – and her adorable cats – on Instagram. 

All photography by Bec Kirby