In Conversation with Sara Mungeam, @houseobsessed

Mylands has been based in Lambeth, London, since it was founded in 1884, and this series celebrates our local partners within the Lambeth community and discovers their stories. Sara Mungeam's story begins in property development. Seeking a career change while balancing family life, it was her love of property that drew her into development, first alongside a friend, renovating homes together before she struck out with her own projects.

So began @houseobsessed, an Instagram account now with 130k followers, documenting Sara's projects, sharing her journey and lessons, and showcasing her design choices to a wider audience seeking advice and knowledge. Mylands was invited to Sara's South London home to learn more about her design process, her love of property development and the Mylands colours throughout her house. Thank you for inviting us, Sara.

Tell us a bit more about the property and where you drew your inspiration for decorating it

With a background in development and renovation, you're constantly on the lookout for inspiration, and you get to try so many things across different projects and spaces. I've never been one to rinse and repeat designs; I always like to do something different, and in any case it's important to be true to the era of the building, whether a period home or a modern architectural new-build.

For my current home, I wanted the interior to reflect the modern build. I've become a huge fan of Australian and New Zealand modern architecture over the past few years, drawn to a very modern, minimalist aesthetic using natural materials and textures rather than loud colours and pattern.

What would you advise for someone wanting to embrace a modern aesthetic?

For me, it's the small details that make an interior timeless, the things you might not immediately notice, like flush skirtings and architraves, shadow gaps, recessed curtain tracks and datums (or lines) that flow around a room. All of these create a calming space, as does having consistent, repeated themes throughout a house, such as colours, textures, materials and finishes.

"For me, it's the small details that make an interior timeless; these are the things you might not immediately notice. All of these help to create a calming space, as does having consistent, repetitive themes throughout a house, such as colours, textures, materials and finishes." - Sara Mungeam.

Any advice on how you pick these details to highlight around the home?

I'm constantly scouring for inspiration, in places I visit, online or in print, collating ideas to refer back to and creating mood boards to visualise combinations of materials and design elements. Interrogating the floorplan early is also essential; I visualise myself moving through and using the space, plotting where key furniture will go so I can work out where essentials like electrics need to be.

Another big thing to plan early is storage, essential for a calm, uncluttered interior, so I look for any nooks and crannies that exist naturally or that I can carve out for cupboards and shelves, then try to unify things as much as possible, for example taking cladding across a doorway or wardrobe fronts.

In a more minimalist interior, materiality, texture and these little touches are so important to keep it interesting rather than bland; furnishings and soft finishes make a difference, but the core materials, wall and floor finishes, joinery and lighting, are the fundamentals, and repetition around the house is then key to a sense of flow and serenity.

How did you pick the colours in your home?

I knew I wanted colour, but in a muted way. I realised the palette I'm drawn to is what I'd describe as 'natural' and 'earthy', which is why I ended up using a few different greens and then dusty or 'dirty' pinks to go with them.

I fell in love with Messel™ No.39 for its almost 'muddy' quality; it's a lovely deep colour that adds real richness without being overwhelming. Portcullis™ No.170 is a green-grey that pairs really well with Messel™ No.39 tonally and has that knocked-back feel, sitting in the background, quietly adding interest and depth.

I like to paint woodwork (skirtings and architraves) slightly darker than the walls, and I sometimes have fun with the ceiling too, painting it a different colour; in one bathroom I used the subtle pink of Rose Theatre™ No.249 on the ceiling, teamed with the deep green of Brompton Road™ No.205 on the fluted cabinetry. The finish used around our house is Plant-Based Multi-Surface Eggshell on the woodwork, and in my son's room we chose Chalk Farm™ No.53 in Marble Matt for a chalky finish. Mylands' Eggshell is the perfect compromise, a durable finish with a soft sheen that isn't too shiny, and I also use a low-sheen eggshell on walls in bathrooms and high-traffic areas as it's more wipeable.

"The quality of [Mylands] paint is exceptional. My daughter accidentally spilled nail varnish on some woodwork painted in Mylands Eggshell. I thought the remover would lift the colour too, but I was amazed it didn't, and the finish remained unscathed. It's incredibly durable, which is great for any busy home." - Sara Mungeam.

Why Mylands for your home?

I first used Mylands' wood stains on the floor of our old house and loved that the products are locally produced in Lambeth. When it came to paint, I'd heard great things about the quality, coverage and pigmentation, so was keen to try them. The quality is exceptional; that nail-varnish incident proved just how durable it is, great for any busy home.

What's your favourite colour in your home?

I love Messel™ No.39, but Portcullis™ No.170 has been a real surprise, a lovely subtle green-grey with a warmth and depth that goes beautifully with the concrete floor, both emphasising and complementing it.

What's next for you?

I use my Instagram to showcase and inspire people about design details, explaining how and when to think about them in the design and build process, and I've recently started offering two-hour 'Design Dilemma' consultations for anyone stuck in some area of their interior or renovation journey.

It's been incredibly gratifying to use my knowledge and experience to help others this way. Discover more about Sara Mungeam via her Instagram, @houseobsessed.