Hot tubs, sleek light features and modern art are the kind of interiors most of us associate with a luxury hotel.
But for Howey Ejegi, they’re simply part of everyday life in his stylish Dundee home.
Better yet, the 36-year-old social media influencer has managed to do it on a fairly modest budget.
What attracted influencer Howey Ejegi to Dundee house?
Since buying the three-bedroom property in Fintry last August, he’s spent just £25,000 on transforming it into a “safe space” that reflects his personality and “extravagant” taste.
What attracted the first-time buyer to the 1950s ex-council house?
“I love spending time outdoors,” he says.
“And when I viewed the house, the garden was very nice and south-facing.
“There was so much potential to do it up, so I could spend a lot of time out in the summer.
“That was the selling point for me.
“And then the space as well – it’s a nice, spacious house.”
The house, previously owned by a family, was also in “very good condition”, meaning Howey could focus on decorating instead of repairs or major structural changes.
Taking inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram and the pages of Architectural Digest, the dad-of-one started in the kitchen.
After replastering and repainting, he and a tradesman friend replaced the “terrible flooring” – half carpet, half tile – with wooden floorboards.
How did Howey save money while renovating Dundee house?
Howey, whose online content focuses on fashion, skin and hair, says: “It was a joint effort: getting someone who was well-experienced made me brave enough to get my hands dirty.
“So I got really stuck in with the whole process in the kitchen.”
To save money, Howey decided to revamp the cabinets instead of replacing them.
“I took all the doors apart and watched a few YouTube videos on how to paint cabinets,” he says.
“I eventually started with a midnight blue colour.”
The result is a sophisticated room that is perfect for hosting friends and family.
Bathroom emulates luxury hotel and spa stays
Howey, who some readers may recognise from the Dundee shopping centre Overgate’s spring marketing campaign, says: “It looks absolutely stunning, and I love spending time here with my son and dining and having guests around.”
When it came to the main bathroom, upstairs, Howey took inspiration from hotel stays.
He replaced the flooring with “gorgeous marble-effect, luxury tiling” and replaced the taps, shower screen and bathtub.
“I absolutely love black, and the bathroom has loads of black details.
“For me, it’s quite calming.
“I wanted my bathroom to feel like a hotel-type bathroom and like a spa area.
“So I could completely just, you know, zone out when I’m in the bathroom.”
Creating a walk-in wardrobe on a budget
This sense of grandeur continues into the master bedroom, where Howey has designed and built his dream walk-in wardrobe.
Howey says: “You see all of these walk-in wardrobes on TV and online and they cost an absolute fortune.
“So what I did was I went to IKEA and I was able to design my own PAX wardrobe, and then they came in and fitted it.”
The black walls contrast with gold leaf cornicing and a neon light sign.
Howey adds: “It is very dark and masculine and just nice and warm and cosy.
“I love spending time in here because it looks like a small boutique.”
Howey continued to cut costs by creating much of the artwork himself.
This includes several modern light features around the house, including one in his 15-year-old son Jai’s bedroom.
“My son loves cars, and I thought, ‘What can I do in this room that he’s going to absolutely love, in terms of lighting?’
Where did Howey buy furniture and fittings in Dundee?
“I didn’t just want to buy lighting from any store, so I came up with this idea to get wheel covers from Amazon, and I was able to then backlight it with some LED strip light.
“It looks absolutely stunning and my son loves it.”
He adds: “I’m quite experimental and quite crafty, because I’ve got, I like to think I’ve got a good eye for stuff.”
He also saved money by “shopping around”.
Flooring came from The Carpet Shed on Strahmartine Avenue, while much of his furniture came from Clepington Antique on Clepington Road and local charity shops.
Pieces also came from B&Q and TK Maxx. “It’s a mixture of old and new,” Howey says.
Outside, he transformed the overgrown garden into a tropical-like haven for relaxing, with a hot tub, patio area and palm trees.
Describing his taste in interiors as “maximalist” and “avant-garde”, Howey strove to find a sweet spot between the two in his home.
A sense of continuity throughout the house was also important to him.
Creating a sense of cohesion between rooms
“When it comes to decor, it’s all about tying it all together so it’s cohesive,” he says.
“One room flows into the other with how I’ve carried colours and patterns.”
The house also reflects Hoewey’s personality and heritage.
“I’ve got a lot of art pieces, including original paintings and bronze sculptures, that I have collected from my hometown in Nigeria,” he says.
“I like to buy a piece of art whenever I go on holiday as a nice memory.
“Every little thing in my house has got like a story or a meaning behind it, and it all ties in together and reflects my personality.”
Howey also recently had a piece commissioned by Dundee-based Venetian plaster artist Oscar, of Odom Walls & Stucco.
After nearly a year of renovating, he says he is ready to relax and enjoy his new home.
“I’m sure there’s going to be few things I would want to tweak, but for now, I am completely happy with how it looks,” he says.
‘My son feels safe and I feel happy’
“My son feels safe, and I feel happy when I come in.
“And that’s exactly what I feel I have achieved with making this a home”
- Have you renovated your property? Get in touch poppy.watson@dcthomson.co.uk
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