Emperor Stories: How Carey Gave Her Home A Fresh New Face
With a beautiful Victorian house in South Wales, Carey decided it was time to tackle a long-awaited goal – giving the outside of her home some TLC.
We spoke to Carey about what inspired her, the process she followed to create the home of her dreams and what advice she’d give to any homeowner about to take on a similar journey. Her story is packed with helpful tips, honest insight and a whole lot of inspiration!
What made you decide it was time to paint the exterior of your home?
“We’d always planned to refresh the exterior at some point, but it became more of a priority as the original paint started to look tired and weathered, with areas peeling and flaking.”
“We were also undergoing an attic renovation and replacing the roof, which meant scaffolding had to be erected around the house. It felt like the perfect opportunity to tackle the exterior while we had easy access. With all the upgrades happening, it just made sense to give the house a fresh new look that truly reflected our style.”
How did you choose your colour and what feel were you trying to create with your home’s exterior?
“We wanted something timeless with a bit of character—something that would complement the period features of the house while still feeling fresh and modern. After testing a few options in different lighting, we settled on a soft, warm white that really lifted the façade and highlighted the architectural details. The overall aim was to create a classic, welcoming feel with a touch of modern elegance.”
What process did you take for the project?
“We started with a full power-wash of the exterior to remove dirt and any flaking paint. After that, we repaired a few minor cracks and rough patches (thankfully there wasn’t too much to fix).”
“We then applied the primer with a roller, followed by two coats of Emperor (Masonry) Paint. It was a fair amount of work, but putting the time and care into each step really paid off in the end.”
How did you find using Emperor Paint?
“We were really impressed with Emperor Paint – the coverage was fantastic, and the finish feels extremely durable and weather-resistant, which is exactly what we needed.”
“I’d recommend following the preparation and application advice closely to get the best result. Using a roller with an extension pole made applying paint to large areas so much easier, and having scaffolding was a huge bonus for access and comfort while working.”
How does it feel now the project is finished?
“It feels amazing! The house looks so refreshed and bright – it’s genuinely a joy to see every time we pull into the driveway.”
“The most satisfying moment was watching the scaffolding come down and seeing the transformation in full. We absolutely love the result, and even more so because we did it ourselves. There’s such a sense of pride in having upgraded the facade of the house with our own hands.”
What would your three tips for other homeowners?
- “Test your colours in different lighting – morning and afternoon sun can completely change how a shade look.”
- “Take your time with prep – it’s not the most exciting part, but it makes a huge difference to the final result.”
- “You don’t have to be a professional! With care, patience and a bit of hard work (plus a lot of coffee), it’s absolutely possible to achieve a great result yourself.”
Want to see more of Carey’s projects? Follow her on Instagram – @ourlittlevictorianhouse.
Ready to start your own transformation? Order your sample or explore our colour inspiration gallery to find the perfect colour for your home.
