Step inside this fresh, Jewel-box bright apartment in south London

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When you spend a lot of time with a particular person, or in a certain place, it's inevitable that ideas will rub off on you. For the owner of this two-bedroom flat in south London, school holidays spent with her grandmother - tailor to Hindu princesses and Malaysian magnates - influenced her own style and design tastes. 'My grandmother was Chinese and she married a Dutchman,' she says. 'They moved from Malaysia to Britain in the 1960s and their house was a real mix of Chinese antiques, Japanese artworks, mid-century furniture and Eastern fabrics, so I've always been drawn to a combination of exoticism tempered with modernity.'

1/12 Exterior

This stylistic DNA proved useful to the owner and her partner when they moved from a small flat in Forest Hill into this property, also in south-east London. 'There was a bidding war for the flat and we ended up going over budget,' she says. As a result there was less leeway for decorating costs, so 'we had to draw on our creative reserve to make this place express our taste.'

2/12 Living-room

As grand structural alterations were out, personality has been added through even-handed blending of colour, texture and pattern. Against a mostly white base, furniture featuring blocks of beautiful, saturated jewel colours, and well-balanced patterns and textures - Ikat with velvet, seagrass with silk, palm tree prints - have transformed the interior so it feels 'exotic, but not hippy-ish.'

In the living room, for example, a print of a Tamara de Lempicka painting highlights the key colour palette of emerald green and grey-blue hues. The bold green makes up the opulent upholstery on the sofa, while alcove storage has been painted in an understated muted blue. The owner designed the cushions to contrast with the sleek nap of the velvet sofa.

Sofa
Sofa.com
Cushion fabric
Jim Thompson Fabrics

3/12 Living room mantelpiece

The influence of the owner's grandmother can be seen clearly in the living room, where a battered (but treasured) Chinoiserie fire screen sits in front of the fireplace. The piece, which the couple found in Malacca, is framed by bookcases which the owners transformed with smoky-jade paint. An arched, gilded mirror draws the eye upwards and adds another Eastern-influenced dimension to the room.

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4/12 Dining area

Mid-century style and classic far-eastern materials - we're looking at the beautiful dark wood finishes - give this dining area a sophisticated style. The sash windows are frosted, rather than covered with curtains, which create privacy without cutting the room's natural light. A geometric Ikat-style textile blind, a favourite style with the owners, adds to the grown-up vibe here.

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Blinds fabric
Jim Thompson Fabric

5/12 Kitchen

The previous owners had installed the current kitchen. 'It looked a little cold and sterile, but we had to work with what we had,' say the couple. They decided to perk up the space by switching out the grey tiles for a rich blue decorative design. They also installed a copper tap, and chose warm-coloured accents throughout, to bring a welcoming glow to the kitchen.

6/12 Bedroom

The owner's rule-breaking approach to colour has the effect of making the two-bed property feel much larger than it is. 'People often go for softer colours in bedroom,' says one of the owners, 'but I wanted a warmer, more sumptuous look.' And so, oranges smoulder against jewel-bright mauves and, as elsewhere in the flat, textures and patterns bring added depth and interest to the decorating scheme. Cool white keeps the look fresh, rather than overwhelming the senses and the space. As a perfect finishing touch, one of the beautiful carved bedside tables, a piece which travelled to the UK from Malaysia, belonged to the owner's inspiration - her grandmother.

Similar bed
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Lampshades
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7/12 Guest bedroom

When it comes to multi-tasking, the couple's guest bedroom has all the bases covered - it also acts as a home office and a dressing room. This colourful display of tactile cushions, bright wall art and ruffled pom-poms brings a fun, relaxed feel to the room, making it feel more welcoming still.

Gem print
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Similar cushions
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8/12 Work space

'It's tempting to stick to neutrals,' says the owner, 'but I like to be different!' So, beside the guest room's tall window that's dressed with an exotic tiger-print blind, a carved wooden writing desk nestles in an alcove to create a neat work space. The palest blue walls keep the room feeling cool and calm, while an over-mantel mirror bounces natural light through the space.

Blind fabric
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9/12 Shelving

Every detail in this flat is carefully thought through - precision is something else that was passed down through the generations! Here, bamboo and fan-inspired accents bring a lovely touch to a storage solution, and help to pull together the East-meets-West decorating theme.

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10/12 Bedroom storage

Aged wood and vintage pieces are mixed and matched in the bright and airy guest room to create a useful dressing area (or space for a wardrobe overflow from the master bedroom!).

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11/12 Bathroom

New flooring, shimmering wallpaper and a dramatic paint colour transformed this space. 'We went for bold choices, like the deep cobalt paint and metallic palm print wallpaper,' say the couple of their bathroom. They painted the roll-top bath forget-me-not blue to tone in with the rest of the relaxing scheme.

Paint
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12/12 Bathroom-basin

The blind fabric inspired the palette of brooding blue, while the palm-frond wallpaper evokes Eastern climes, even with the classic bathroom suite.

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Despite their limited budget, the couple have made their flat into a comfortable and stylish home that shines with their own style and design ideas throughout.