This cottage in Beverley was transformed by keen cook Melanie Coates who discovered a hidden talent for DIY

“I tend to post more interiors pictures now and use recipes as Instagram stories,” says Melanie, who discovered a talent for DIY and interior design when giving her two-bedroom home a makeover.

Since buying the period property in Beverley 14 years ago, she has gradually changed just about everything, apart from the original doors and fireplace. “The fireplace hadn’t been used and had a sleeping bag stuffed up it to keep out the draughts. One of the first things I did was have it swept and checked so I could have a real fire, which is lovely,” she says.

The chimney breast is painted in Dulux Denim Drift and she upcycled the old white mirror above the fire by spray painting it black. “I’ve surprised myself by becoming very self-sufficient when it comes to DIY to the point where I asked for a drill for Christmas,” says Melanie. “Having a go at DIY has really given me a lot of satisfaction. I can stand back and think ‘I did that by myself’.”

Among her most impressive projects is what looks like wall panelling in the bedroom. She got the idea from Instagram and watched YouTube videos for advice on how to make it. She “panelled” just under three quarters of the wall behind the bed, added a row of pegs and then topped it with a handy shelf.

“I got the thin MDF strips cut to size at B&Q. They were only £15 and I stuck them on the wall with No More Nails glue. It looks like it is all wood panelling but it is just strips of MDF and the original wall. The hardest part was working out the spacing of the strips.”

Melanie painted the wall and MDF in Dusky Blush chalk paint by Frenchic. She also used a white shade of Frenchic to bring new life to her bedroom furniture. The power of paint became most evident when she swapped the white walls in the sitting room walls for a blue-grey colour. “I was thinking of getting rid of my old leather sofa but after painting the wall behind it, it just came alive. It is amazing what colour can do.”

The coffee table that stands in front of it was made by Melanie’s sister and was fashioned from old wood pallets, which she sanded and set on four wheels. The kitchen with breakfast bar is from Howdens and the range belonged to her parents who wanted to swap the gas oven for an induction cooker.

The bathroom was inspired by a stay at the Titanic hotel in Liverpool. “I splashed out on the walk-in shower and free-standing bath and the same grey metro tiles that the hotel has,” says Melanie, who added plants, both faux and real. “One thing I’d really recommend is buying houseplants from a shop that specialises in them as they seem to survive better.”

With the house in pristine condition, Melanie has contemplated selling: “I love it here but I am thinking of moving and buying a renovation project. It will be something old that needs some love.” Find Melanie on Instagram at no.52.Terrace_ to_Table

Melanie’s favourite places to shop, eat and visit:

Shop: For candles, diffusers and shower/bath products, I love Jo Malone, Plum & Ashby and Noble Isle. They are all British and Noble Isle locally sources its ingredients and the Rhubarb scents are sourced from the Rhubarb Triangle in Yorkshire. For homeware I like Plant & Paint in Hull and the Beverley Flower company, which sells plants and stocks Frenchic paint. Nordic Rosie in Hull is good for home accessories and I also use Baytree Interiors in York and Tyler & Black in Beverley. On the high street and online I use TKMaxx/Homesense, H&M home, Ikea, Next home and the Garden Trading Company.

Eat: In Beverley I really like Sumo Pan Asian and Ogino Japanese for something a little different. Just outside of Beverley, I really enjoy Pipe and Glass in South Dalton – the food is outstanding and it’s perfect for something special. I grew up in the village of Brandesburton and most of my family still live there so we are very much locals at Bert’s Pizzeria, which has a beautiful view over Dacre Lake.

I often go for brunch at the Brunch Club in Brough and enjoy Humber Street in Hull, where Butler Whites serves one of my favourite dishes of prawn thermidor. I am a huge fan of Greek food so I love to visit the Greek in Hessle.

Visit: I usually have my dogs, Millie and Bertie, in tow so Beverley Westwood is amazing – such gorgeous open space in a town is lovely. We also like to visit Millington Woods, Nut Wood at Raywell and Allerthorpe Forest. Anywhere in the Yorkshire Dales is a winner, we have completed loads of different walks up there over the years.