{"id":636410,"date":"2026-06-13T09:21:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T09:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/636410\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T09:21:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T09:21:43","slug":"what-i-rent-im-an-interior-designer-heres-how-ive-upgraded-my-2700-dalston-flat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/636410\/","title":{"rendered":"What I Rent: I’m an interior designer \u2014 here’s how I’ve upgraded my \u00a32,700 Dalston flat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Am\u00e9lie
\n\t\tThis weekend, we\u2019re in Dalston chatting to Am\u00e9lie Pellerin (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

Welcome back to\u00a0What I Rent<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Metro\u2019s\u00a0tenant diary\u00a0series exploring what\u00a0renting<\/a>\u00a0is like in the UK and further afield.<\/p>\n

Am\u00e9lie Pellerin had always loved adding her own touches<\/a> to any rental. So, when she decided it was time for a career change<\/a>, retraining as an interior designer<\/a> felt like an obvious option.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d already taken her creative hand to her two-bedroom flat in Dalston<\/a>, for which she pays \u00a32,700 per month, and soon found herself working at the agency of her dreams.<\/p>\n

After seven years under the same tenancy, 37-year-old Am\u00e9lie has done everything from painting walls to drilling holes. And she\u2019s still grateful she has such a relaxed landlord.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what Am\u00e9lie had to say about her renting journey\u2026<\/p>\n

Tell us about yourself!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m 37 years old, and I\u2019ve been an interior designer for the last five years. Before that, I was in a completely different industry, so it feels great to be able to pursue my passion. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m originally from Paris<\/a>, and I\u2019ve been living in London<\/a> for almost 15 years now. I live with my husband and baby daughter, who is seven months old.<\/p>\n

What kind of property do you rent and how long have you been there?\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a two-bedroom flat in a new build in Dalston. I\u2019ve lived there for seven years.<\/p>\n

How much do you pay to live here?\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a32,700 per month.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tLatest London news\t\t\t<\/p>\n

To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’s London news hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What do you get for what you pay?\u00a0<\/p>\n

On top of the flat itself, we have a concierge, a small gym in the building, and a rooftop with a 360-degree view of London.<\/p>\n

Do you feel like you have a good deal?\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s definitely a very expensive place, especially when I compare it to some of my friends\u2019 rent in other European countries, but for London, I feel like we genuinely have a good deal. <\/p>\n

The location is amazing, so well connected, the flat is new, so we have no issues whatsoever: well insulated, soundproofed, and with an incredible view with no buildings facing us.<\/p>\n

What do you love about your flat?\u00a0<\/p>\n

It feels really bright and spacious, and we have huge floor-to-ceiling windows in every room. I love the modernity of it, the clean lines, and the beautiful modern wooden floors. It\u2019s a great foundation and a blank canvas for me to work my magic. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"Am\u00e9lie
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie is busy baby-proofing the place (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThey have floor-to-ceiling windows in every room (Picture: w8media)
\nWhat do you think of Dalston?<\/p>\n

I love it. I\u2019ve always lived in East London since I moved to the UK. Dalston has this raw, edgy, creative vibe that I\u2019m really drawn to.<\/p>\n

I love food and eating out, going to the movies, and museums. Music is a big one because my husband is a part-time musician.<\/p>\n

I really like this restaurant called Albers <\/a>\u2013 it\u2019s quite small, but they\u2019ve managed to make it so tasteful and cosy. There\u2019s also Dance for drinks<\/a>, which is a wine bar with candles everywhere and really nice artwork.<\/p>\n

How does living in London compare to Paris?<\/p>\n

In Paris, I felt like I was suffocating a bit, and I really wanted to get away. I\u2019d had enough of doing something I didn\u2019t enjoy, but also the Parisian mentality. <\/p>\n

I decided to go to the other side of the world, and I lived in Australia<\/a> for a year. I got a one-way ticket and figured it out when I was there.<\/p>\n

At the time, I was dating<\/a> an Australian, and he had a visa for London, so I thought, why not? We ended up here, and then we split up, but I loved it, so I ended up staying.<\/p>\n

Paris is a bit smaller, so you can feel a little bit claustrophobic. Everyone goes to the same trendy places, whereas London is just never-ending. It also feels airier, almost like a lot of different little villages all stuck together. Every neighbourhood has its own life.<\/p>\n

How did you find this property?\u00a0<\/p>\n

On OpenRent.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tWe\u2019re enjoying the flying birds on the wall (Picture: w8media)
\nHow have you made this place feel like home?\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a long process. I started with one vision for the interior, and it evolved a lot over the years as I got a better understanding of how we actually live and use the space.<\/p>\n

We also moved in as a young couple, then got married, then had a baby, so the flat has had to grow with us and our lives.<\/p>\n

Now it answers our needs perfectly. In practical terms, making it feel like a home came down to making it feel really cosy: layering rugs, cushions, warm woods and soft textures, a lot of plants, and really considered soft ambient lighting.<\/p>\n

I love hosting, so the open-plan is where everything happens. It\u2019s the heart of the flat, and it\u2019s basically three rooms in one \u2013 kitchen, living, and dining room. You could spend a whole day here and have everything you need.<\/p>\n

How did you first get into interior design?<\/p>\n

When I moved to London, I needed to find a job really quickly, so I ended up working in sales. I always wanted to do something more creative, but it\u2019s about the right time and place for it. I was single and in my early 20s, and I couldn\u2019t afford to make a career change.<\/p>\n

Time went by, and then Covid<\/a> hit, and I was really struggling. My boyfriend, now husband, said, \u2018Look, if you want to change, I\u2019m happy to support both of us for a few months.\u2019<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t exactly know what I wanted to do in the creative industry, but as we moved in together, the flat was unfurnished. I did it all, and I loved it. Even previously, when I was living in some really rubbish places, I would always put a lot of effort into making it look nice and feel very functional.<\/p>\n

I never really connected the dots, but then I started to reach out to some interior designers on Instagram. I got a lot of books, and I tried to get all the tools I could online to acquire knowledge. I also got a career coach to help me, and I ended up having quite a nice network.<\/p>\n

A dream studio, to which I reached out, happened to need a bit of extra help, so I went once every two weeks. They were really happy with what I did, so I became a full-time designer for them.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThere\u2019s timeless touches throughout (Picture: w8media)
\nWhat inspires your interior design style?<\/p>\n

My style is evolving with time, but also with life. I like organic, round shapes, which is perfect because you can\u2019t really go for super harsh corners everywhere when you have a baby. You also need to think about colours and materials, which are a bit more forgiving for stains.<\/p>\n

I go for darker woods, and I\u2019ve invested in a few pieces that are a bit more expensive, like some lamps from Soho Home. It\u2019s modern and mid-century, but there are also some Scandinavian and Japanese influences. It\u2019s not a clear style that fits in a box.<\/p>\n

Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting? Is your landlord happy with you doing bits?\u00a0<\/p>\n

He\u2019s very happy, and he\u2019s said before that I\u2019ve done an amazing job. The tenant-landlord relationship can be tricky because some people don\u2019t feel invested in a place that isn\u2019t theirs, but that\u2019s never been my approach.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always been really careful and respectful of the space. I think that\u2019s why he gives me the green light to do what I want. I\u2019ve been able to drill holes, paint walls different colours, all without any issue. I\u2019m really lucky to have such a flexible and open-minded landlord.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Am\u00e9lie
\n\t\tNo wonder her landlord is pleased (Picture: w8media)
\nDo you have plans to move again any time soon? What about buying a place?\u00a0<\/p>\n

For now, we\u2019re really happy where we are. Our baby is only young, so our priorities are shifting, and maybe in the future we\u2019ll want fewer clubs on the doorstep and a garden instead. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to project at this stage; we\u2019ll cross that bridge when we come to it.<\/p>\n

As for buying, it\u2019s not something we\u2019re thinking about with current London prices. We really value the flexibility that renting gives us. Maybe down the line, but not right now.<\/p>\n

Shall we take a look around?<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tShe and her husband pay \u00a32,700 per month in rent (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tTheir flat is a new-build, and it\u2019s got plenty of space (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThey also have access to a concierge, a rooftop, and a gym (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThe open-plan kitchen\/living room is where most of life happens (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThe pair love the location (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie says the area is well-connected (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie loves that London feels like a series of different neighbourhoods (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThe couple found their property on OpenRent (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie\u2019s vision for the interiors has evolved over time (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\t\u2026as they\u2019ve incorporated themselves into the space more (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tShe\u2019s made use of soft, ambient lighting (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tWe\u2019re enjoying this funky rug (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie has always enjoyed making spaces functional (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\t\u2026which is partly what prompted a career change (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie first started out volunteering as an interior designer (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\t\u2026before joining an agency full-time (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie enjoys hosting friends for dinner here (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tNow that\u2019s a well-stocked spice rack (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tWe\u2019re aspiring to this level of organisation (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThe bookshelf of dreams? We think so (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie has recently invested in some more high-end pieces (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\t\u2018Some people don\u2019t feel invested in a place that isn\u2019t theirs\u2019 (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie says each room feels airy and comfortable (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tFor now, they\u2019re happy where they are (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\t\u2026but acknowledge that in the future, they might want more space (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tIt\u2019s all in the little details (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThe perfect rocking chair (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie has introduced some greenery in the bathroom, too (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\t\u2018We really value the flexibility that renting gives us,\u2019 says Am\u00e9lie (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tWith house prices as they are, buying isn\u2019t quite an option (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tAm\u00e9lie\u2019s husband is a part-time musician (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inside
\n\t\tThey\u2019ve got outdoor space, too, which can be rare in London (Picture: w8media)<\/p>\n

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