Get inspiration for a cosy rustic interior with this traditional barn restoration project in the heart of Suffolk, full of vintage pieces and characterful touches.
So, you’ve been on a lovely day out with your family, you’ve celebrated a special occasion or you’ve enjoyed the trip of a lifetime – and you took plenty of photos while you were there. But what do you then do with those snaps? Leave them languishing unseen on your
Take a tour of Elle Collins’ mid-century style home, which became an indoor jungle after her houseplant collection thrived in the airy vaulted space. Here are before & after photos of her interior revamp plus lots of pics of her gorgeous cat Mia…
This gorgeous period property in Dublin belongs to Darran Heaney of Old Victorian New and he has kindly allowed me to share some snaps of his renovation project – from the before photos to the completed home tour. Let’s step inside…
There’s nothing better than an old family photo to bring a sense of history to your home – but what if those ancient snaps are damaged or discoloured? Here are some ideas for repairing them and including those precious memories in your interiors…
Whether you want a cute way to celebrate Valentine’s Day or simply want to capture some memories with your significant other, a couple’s photoshoot is a fun activity to plan, and you can DIY it – here’s how…
If you love to share your photographs on social media, you’ll no doubt have spotted the latest photography trends on the platforms you use. If you want to replicate those cool photos for yourself, here’s how to get the look for less…
I’ve just got back from Latitude 2019 and I wanted to share my photos and festival highlights with you today. I had an amazing time, laughed my socks off and soaked up the creative atmosphere so here’s what I got up to and the performers I recommend from this year’s
A wedding is one of the most important events in your life, and capturing the moment is important. Sure, it means allocating a portion of time during your big day for the official photos of your family and friends together, but it’s worthwhile taking the time to get the photos
If you’re a blogger, vlogger, photographer or independent business, you’ll no doubt already be planning for Christmas. I know – too soon, right? But we’ve already had plenty of ‘Christmas in July’ events and product previews and, in terms of content creation, it’s fast approaching! So, today I thought I’d
There are lots of quick and easy ways to give your home a unique and highly personalised look. One of the easiest, and often the most affordable ways, is using your own photos. Most of us take a lot but rarely do anything with them, apart from maybe posting a
Hi guys, I’m back in my home office today after a thrilling weekend at Latitude Festival here in Suffolk and, now that I’ve finally got back into the swing of everyday life, I figured that now would be a good time to share my photos of the event with you.
Staircases can easily be overlooked when you’re decorating your home, even though they are often one of the first things that you see when you come in through the front door. A lot of people think it’s too much hassle to change their stairs, but it can easily be done
I think I can safely say that this is the biggest photo I’ve ever printed. And definitely the largest I’ve ever pasted onto a wall, that’s for certain. Sure, I’ve used a couple of posters to create a large-ish image on my bathroom wall in the past, but have never filled a
This has to be the quickest DIY project I’ve ever done. I don’t even have a step-by-step guide to share with you. But I do have some before and after photos so you can see just how effective this easy project is. Roll on wedding season!I wanted to make some pretty
Have you ever taken a photo and thought to yourself, ”I wish I could print this out lifesize”? That’s exactly what I thought when my husband took an amazing shot of the sea last week. Well, I suppose my thought does have something to do with the fact that I’m
Just wanted to share a quick blog post today with some of the photos I took at this year’s Latitude Festival. Some of my personal highlights included watching a breath-taking performance by festival novice Jane Horrocks in the Film & Music arena, and sitting in on the Standard Issue Magazine
The excitement is beginning to build and I’m hearing more and more mentions of the festival on social media. It can only mean one thing; it’s almost time for Latitude festival. Yes we’re only a few weeks away from East Anglia’s biggest music, arts and comedy festival and I can’t wait
What do you give to your special someone for Valentine’s Day when you’re both trying to save money and clear the clutter? Something very thrifty and useful, that’s what. I know you wouldn’t expect anything less from me so I’m happy to oblige! I’ve upcycled a gift box that I
Have you put your camera away for winter? If so you’re not alone; I’ve certainly been avoiding taking photos for a while. While I find it relatively easy to take interesting snaps during the summer, I’ve been struggling to take any decent photos recently and it’s been putting me off
I only heard about the supermoon lunar eclipse when my brother mentioned it to me on Saturday night. I always seem to hear about these big celestial events just after they’ve happened so it was a real treat to be able to experience it for myself this time. I did
I’ve been talking about doing a bathroom makeover for a while now, and I’ve been very keen to include a tromploi-esque photowall in my design, but this week I have actually gone ahead and DONE IT! Yes, I have pasted my bathroom wall with a massive fly-poster of a photo that
I was very inspired by my visit to the Hollister store in Cambridge last month and wrote all about the tropical beach hut theme and how I wanted to recreate this within my own home. The most impressive design element for me was the coastal projection ‘windows’ all around the store
When I wrote about the interior décor of Hollister stores last week it was pretty clear that I was really inspired by the design. Ever since my visit to the Cambridge shop, I’ve been trying to work out a way that I could inject a bit of Californian holiday atmosphere
Just a quick post this afternoon to share my photos from bonfire night as promised in last week’s post! The plan on ‘actual’ bonfire night was to build a small fire in the back garden and chill out with jacket potatoes for dinner, followed by a lot of playing with
Another feature of our anniversary party was the photo wall. We had a doorway that we needed to cover to stop guests going into the room, so we decided that we would cover it with a sheet of fabric and use it as a backdrop for a photo-booth style photo-wall. So
I thought I’d share a few photos of what I got up to last weekend because I was lucky enough to be treated to a day out at the seaside.
Today is the launch of a brand new photography exhibition at the Morley College, Westminster in London and it features work by my wonderful photographer friend and blog contributor Claire Lacey of Lacey In Places. Here she shares her photographs on the subject of Man v Nature and discusses how she produced the
You may remember that last Sunday I was taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and I wanted to share the photos with you and let you know how we got on. Me, mum and hubby put out loads of wild bird seed, corn, peanuts, fat balls and suet blocks to
Well, the UK weather forecasters have been predicting a deep-freeze for a while now, with a freakishly low-temperatured cold-front predicted to hit the country this week – and for once they actually got it right – it snowed! At least in some parts of the country that is. When I wake
This year I went on a bit of a tour of the Christmas markets in the UK. It was a bit of a birthday treat from my husband, who took me to Manchester, Leeds and York to experience the best festive markets in the north. Here’s my photos from the
I was lucky enough to be in Preston during the town’s Guild celebrations. This once-every-twenty-years event included performances, art, processions, fireworks and music over a two-week period and here’s my snaps of the town centre and Avenham & Miller parks:
Here’s one of my favourite photographs from Andy Greenacre’s recent exhibition – check out his website here: www.Andy-Greenacre.co.uk This panoramic photograph was taken by the artist back in 2000 in South Africa.
Here’s a couple of stunning photos by photographer Claire Lacey, taken at Ipswich waterfront of an enormous piece of graffiti art and some peeling paint on the dockside. What do you think? Leave me a comment below 🙂
It’s that lovely time of year again when crops are harvested and lovely bales of all sizes can be seen in the fields – round bales, small rectangular bales, oversized bales and I’ve even seen straw bales stacked up as high as a house! The sunshine over fields of hay
A stunning photograph taken this summer by Alex Clarke with a Cannon EOS 550D – great composition and amazing colours – enjoy!
Look at this gorgeous wild poppy that I spotted growing outside an old garage recently. I’ve never seen a purple poppy before, so I quickly took a couple of snaps of it and noticed that it was actually growing out of a crack in some concrete! It’s amazing where wild
I had such a hectic (but lovely) weekend over the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday that its taken me this long to recover and get back into full-swing! As you might remember me mentioning before the Jubilee, I had celebrations planned throughout the whole weekend – fitting in as many community
Last weekend we attended the Alive & V-Dubbin festival hosted by VW enthusiast group Suffolk Bugrs at Jimmy’s Farm in Suffolk. We visited the festival on the final day, with the specific intention to view the main focus of the event; the show ‘n’ shine competition. We love seeing the best
I really love this close-up image of an old Ross Ensign camera in its battered leather case – taken by Alex Clarke with a Canon EOS 550D.
This week’s WordPress weekly photo challenge theme is “Breakfast” so here’s my favourite photo of a breakfast we had recently – one of mum’s home-baked loaves:
This photo of the House in the Clouds in Thorpeness sums up this week’s WordPress photo challenge theme of “wonder”. The house was designed for Mrs Malcolm Mason, a close friend of the village owner’s. He later called her his “lady of the stairs and starlight”. She was a writer of children’s
This week’s WordPress photo challenge was on the subject of ‘Hidden’ and I was immediately reminded of this photo of my cat Cookie that I took when she had crawled into a box on moving-day:
I love this photo of a beautiful Suffolk sunset, which was taken in Stonham Aspal in 2005 by Andy Greenacre. I especially love the silhouette created. This is my contribution to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge – this week’s theme is Sunset.
I love this photo by Claire Lacey – I’d simply love to go for a sunny evening stroll down that path! It looks like a great location for a fairy photoshoot – and you can just imagine real fairies peeking out from around the trunks of the trees and skipping
I’ve just found out that one of my professional acquaintances ;o) is going to be exhibiting at the Fairy Fair this weekend too! The talented (not to mention lovely) photographer Katherine Ashdown is having a stall at the Fairyland Trust’s fundraiser to bring her family, lifestyle and wedding photography to
Planning for university doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Here’s how you can break down the costs, explore financial support, consider flexible study options, and build a student budget that actually works…
Give your static caravan a fresh new look with these DIY updates. Here are the frugal décor finds and thrifty storage ideas I used in my own little vintage caravan to help you create a cosy and characterful holiday home…
Renovating a home gets messy fast, but having the right supplies before you begin can save stress. From parts to pipe measuring, here’s a guide to essential DIY supplies inspired by my own fixer‑upper journey to help your renovation run smoothly…
Creating a calm, organised home can transform your daily life. From clearer thinking to cleaner air, decluttering brings a sense of ease. With simple tools to help you stay organised long‑term, your home can feel peaceful & manageable all year round…
Celebrate Father’s Day the thrifty way with budget‑friendly activities, handmade treats & thoughtful gifts. Here are creative ideas to spoil Dad without overspending – proving that meaningful moments matter more than money…
Pick up your paintbrush and be inspired by the incredible colours and pattern-clashing interior of Roisin Quinn, winner of BBC Interior Design Masters. This vibrant decor is sure to brighten up your day and here’s the story of how this IDM winner created it…
Discover the thoughtful accessibility support I found at Latitude Festival when I visited. From wellbeing services & sensory tents to accessible viewing areas & inclusive facilities, here’s how Latitude ensures the festival feels comfortable & welcoming for all…
Running a small business can feel overwhelming, but a few clever tools can make your creative life so much easier. From automated workflows & cloud backups to AI, here’s the stress‑saving tech every indie biz owner should know about…
LEGO® has evolved far beyond building blocks, offering creative play for children and STEM‑powered challenges for teens. From Technic engineering builds to space‑themed sets it’s the perfect school‑holiday activity for curious minds…
Entertain children and teens over the school holidays with these handy ideas for indoor and outdoor activities: they’re affordable, easy to organise and, most importantly, fun for all ages. Here are 10 adventures to enjoy with your family…
If you’ve ever felt the pressure to find the “perfect” present, here’s a little reminder: thoughtful always beats expensive. Shopping small not only makes gifting more meaningful, it also supports real people doing what they love. Here’s why…
With plethora of music festivals taking place throughout the summer, I thought it would be a good idea to write a blog post about how to pre-prepare your hair to keep it looking great during the festival season…
Taking card payments can feel intimidating at first, especially for small businesses & mumpreneurs. Choosing the right provider helps you manage cash flow, avoid technical hiccups so you don’t miss out on sales from card‑loving customers. Here’s how…
If you’re interested in the mid-century kitchenware range Picquot Ware, I spotted a tea set while watching the BBC show Antiques Road Trip and here are all the details of the episode, along with some photos…
Before becoming a finalist on Interior Design Masters, artistic creator Jack Kinsey transformed a derelict chapel – here are the incredible ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos of the decadent decor to inspire you…
If you’ve been feeling uneasy about the government’s review of ADHD & autism services, you’re not alone. Here’s why the review is happening, how diagnoses can bring calm & clarity, and the empowering benefits of seeking support – at any stage of life…
If you’re looking for inspiration for decorating your own period property, today’s home tour will show you some ways to achieve a glamorous heritage style adorned with opulent gilding and plenty of tropical touches…
If you’re looking for some lush ideas for Valentine’s Day that are a little different, here are some things you can do and treats you can choose to make your loved one feel special this February..
A home’s personality often appears in the little things we choose to look at every day — and that’s where wall art quietly works its magic. Here are some things to consider when you’re choosing prints, paintings and photographs for your home…
With the dark evenings and dropping temperatures, the winter season can be a difficult time for many of us. Here are some tips from the experts to help you navigate these cold, grey months and prioritise your wellbeing…
When you’ve met the love of your life and are looking for a way to propose to your partner, the festive season can be the perfect opportunity for this. Here are some ways you can plan the perfect proposal that’ll be memorable and magical…
If you’re hoping to buy your first home this coming year, here are ten handy tips that’ll help you to get prepared for your house hunt and to make sure the whole buying process goes smoothly…
If you’ve got grown-ups to buy for this Christmas, here are some fun, creative and interesting present ideas that they’ll enjoy unwrapping on the big day. Check out this selection to get your shopping sorted at the start of December…
Teenagers are possibly the trickiest age group to buy gifts for. Who knows what’s cool or not – especially when trends change from one week to the next? Here are some fun presents that’ll delight any teen when they unwrap them at Christmas…
