Sometimes the simple changes can be the ones that have the biggest impact. It's true that you can achieve a makeover on even a very small budget but this one cost nothing at all, and whilst I know that not everyone has a Utility Room, the changes that I made would work in any kitchen too. Our Utility Room is a small narrow room just off the kitchen. It has sliding door because it wouldn't be deep enough for a door to open into it. It is … [Read more...]
Weekend Project: Paint Sample Pinboard upcycle
Pinboards are, for the main part, plain and functional. You can of course buy fabric covered ones but when I was searching for a large pinboard for each of The Girls' rooms, I couldn't find anything I liked. So I ordered the size I wanted, then headed to my local DIY store for some paint samples for a Paint Sample Pinboard upcycle, if you will. Dimples has explained repeatedly of late that she likes "every colour of the rainbow" rather … [Read more...]
Floral Monogram Craft for a girl’s bedroom
This time last year I was counting glue-gun-related burns and counting pompoms as I made a Pom Pom Monogram for Dimples' Dora Birthday party. After the party it got to hang in pride of place above her bed- a two-foot-tall homage to the small person that puts us all in our place. Her sister wanted a Floral Monogram. It took a few months until a delivery arrived in a conveniently-sized box so that I could begin again with glue-gun … [Read more...]
Duck Tape Pinboard Makeover
You will have seen that we've been turning our summerhouse into a Clubhouse for The Girls so they have a space to call their own as they grow. DH gave our new summerhouse a Shabby Chic makeover during the summer and I've been accessorising since. We added a fabulous Fairtrade rug for card games, as well as a little bookcase I bought via eBay. I added a few twinkly battery-operated lights too, so we could enjoy autumn evenings out there … [Read more...]
Painted Mailbox makeover
Is it a postbox if it isn't red? I have no idea. I got to a crucial point in my painted mailbox makeover last week and I had to ask my Instagram followers what wording I should use. I am deeply in love with the result. After I updated our front door earlier this month, I knew I needed to do something similar with the post box. It came with the house- I presume made by the last owner- as we have no letter box in the front door. Ours is a … [Read more...]
Fabulous Fairtrade Shabby Chic Braided Rug
Our Shabby Chic Summerhouse makeover has been getting some fabulous feedback, both from The Girls who use it almost daily, and online. I still have several tweaks I want to make, things I want to add and top of my hit-list was a rug. So I was delighted when Culture Vulture Direct got in touch to offer one. Funnily enough I had received my copy of their catalogue in the mail only that morning and had been petitioning DH for the Providence Rag Rug … [Read more...]
How to paint your front door
Growing up I moved around the world with my parents, I went to boarding school, then I got a job that involved travelling. So with our first house, it was so important to me that I declared my ownership. In my case (and the then-boyfriend, of course) it was with a smart new front door, painted black and decorated with frosted numbers on the glass panel above, just like I'd seen in the Grand Designs magazine. Once that was done, it really felt … [Read more...]
