Colourful interior inspiration from a retro + boho Berlin apartment
Get inspiration for a happy, vibrant, mid-century interior from this apartment tour of interior designer & artist Melanie Mahrhold’s retro, boho home…
Read MoreSearch Results for: retro
Renovation inspiration – Vintage ‘loaf of bread’ caravan
If you’re planning a vintage caravan restoration or simply want to dribble over some original details from a retro trailer, today’s bank holiday blog post features photos of a stunning ‘loaf of bread’ caravan, inside and out…
Read MoreHow to style a retro cocktail cabinet for your New Year’s Eve party
If you’re planning a party for New Year’s Eve, why not make it a retro one? Step back in time to the 70s and recreate the cocktail cabinet that all mid-century housewives wished they had. We’ve styled up this G Plan Fresco cabinet with vintage barware and snacks so here’s how you can do the same…
Read MoreWhy I love using vintage record players and radios in my home
There’s something really soothing about listening to an LP on a vintage record player. Likewise, I quite like the occasional crackle of an analogue radio tuned into my local station. Here’s why you should include retro music players in your home…
Read MoreHow to DIY a retro cocktail cabinet for your festive parties
If you’re planning to entertain over Christmas and New Year, it’s a great idea to have a cocktail cabinet ass a place to serve delicious drinks to your guests. Here’s how to make your own DIY retro bar from an old display cabinet…
Read MoreHow to create a truly vintage look even when you’re on a budget
It used to be the case that vintage fashion equaled low cost. You could buy ‘retro’ clothing by the kilo and could dig it out from the back rails of charity shops. However, these days, you could easily spend more money on a vintage dress than one from the high street, so how do you […]
Read MoreSourcing vintage Skyline utensils for my thrifty 1950s kitchen makeover
I’ve recently been renovating the kitchen of my 1950s home, adding colour & vintage design to recreate how it would have looked when the house was first built. Here’s what I discovered when I searched for iconic Skyline utensils…
Read MoreTop secret! Personalised and retro gift ideas for your husband…
Here’s some of the personalised and retro gifts I’ve picked up for my husband this year, and I hope they’ll help you get your gift list in order too…
Read MoreHouse tour of pattern designer Rachael Taylor’s vibrant home
After having the pleasure of writing about surface pattern designer & illustrator Rachael Taylor’s home, I just knew that her vibrant interior & gorgeous garden would inspire you to inject some colour into your own home. Check out this exciting house tour:
Read MoreHow to decorate with mid-century colours for a cosy autumnal home
As autumn approaches, there’s nothing better than feeling cosy & comfortable in your home. Textures add to that feeling, but I tend to focus colour on the most, which is why I’m exploring how my favourite mid-century colours create a feeling of cosiness…
Read MoreThrifty gift guide for teens – treats they’ll love (that aren’t smartphones)
Whether it’s a post-exams treat, a birthday present or a celebratory GCSE-passing gift, you’ll probably need to think outside the box the next time you’re buying a gift for a teen. The usual toys and games just aren’t going to cut it anymore, are they? Here are some ideas that you might not have already thought of:
Read More5 Ideas for using Eileen Gray’s Bibendum chair as an accent piece
An accent piece needs to stand out in an interior and the stylish Bibendum chair is a versatile piece furniture to use as an feature piece in room. It goes beyond mere functionality and you can play around with colour, texture, and location in the room. Here’s a rundown of five among many ways you can use the Eileen Gray Bibendum chair as an accent piece in your interior:
Read MoreMy Rand McNally Lunar Globe & the 50th Anniversary of the moon landing
Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing – can you believe that fifty years have passed since that momentous occasion?? To celebrate I’m sharing some photos of my vintage Rand McNally lunar globe that featured in this month’s Reclaim Magazine…
Read MoreWhy vintage record players are essential home décor at Christmas
I love listening to festive music at this time of year. In the car, on the radio and via YouTube playlists when I’m in the bath. But most of all I love listening to music on a record player. I have countless Christmas compilation LPs, from carols to contemporary, and there’s nothing better than listening […]
Read MoreHow to use mid-century Remploy furniture in a modern interior
If you want to get a mid-century feel in your home but don’t want to compromise on the flexibility that contemporary design provides, choosing vintage furniture made by Remploy could be the answer…
Read MoreHow to spot genuine vintage baubles – my festive article in Reclaim magazine
I’m feeling super-festive right now and it’s because the Christmas issue of Reclaim magazine is out now! And my Design Icon article this month is vintage baubles, including how to spot the genuine article…
Read MoreStep-by-step guide to turn an old hostess trolley into a colourful bar cart
I don’t know why hostess trolleys ever went out of fashion. They’re so handy for gathering everything you need together, and wheeling it right where you need it to be. So, when I spotted this old wooden trolley in a skip, I was keen to rescue it. Here’s how to upcycle a retro trolley into a vintage style bar cart for bank holiday parties…
Read More5 Ideas for using the iconic Artichoke lamp in your home
The iconic artichoke lamp was first showcased in 1958 and has been garnering praise for over 60 years. Danish architect Paul Henningsen created the classic design & here are 5 ways you can use it in your home…
Read MoreDecorating inspiration – Most fabulously festive period property ever!
With Christmas only a few days away and everyone frantically preparing for the big day, I thought I would share some gorgeously styled photos of festive interiors to give you inspiration for your own decorations this year…
Read MoreStep-by-step upcycling project: Easy ways to revamp old plastic chairs
If you’ve got old plastic seating – whether desk chairs, garden loungers or old school seats – it IS possible to refresh the faded & stained plastic rather than taking them to the tip. Here’s how I got on when I gave my plastic swivel chairs a makeover…
Read More4 Hacks for renovating vintage Lloyd Loom woven bucket chairs
After decades of use and sun exposure in a conservatory many classic Lloyd Loom chairs are faded or damaged. While it’s still possible to buy the originals (I picked these up at a car boot sale) it’s likely that they’ll need a little care and attention to bring them back to life. Here’s some simple tricks to renovate vintage woven chairs and bring a touch of retro design onto your patio this summer…
Read MoreUpcycling a writing bureau into a cocktail cabinet for festive parties
No festive party should be without a cocktail cabinet, which is precisely why I’ve DIY’d one this month! Turning this writing bureau into a drinks bar is a relatively easy upcycle (no power tools required!) and it’ll be the hub of all your gatherings over the festive period, so read on to find out more…
Read MoreHow to incorporate mid-century design into your contemporary home
You only have to open up the Pinterest home page to discover a multitude of ways to incorporate mid-century design into your home. It’s no longer about choosing a ’50s, ’60s or ’70s “theme” that you have to commit to, it’s about choosing sleek designs that fit into your 21st century home perfectly. Here’s how…
Read MoreWhy vintage patterned Pyrex is perfect for dishing up festive meals
I’ve given my kitchen a 1950s makeover to match the period of our home so I’ve done my research on vintage Pyrex and have browsed countless original designs. Here are some of my favourites from an impressive collection…
Read MoreHow to identify vintage Hornsea & 3 ways to style it in your home
If you’ve got some Hornsea pottery or simply like the mid-century style of their designs, here’s how you can identify the pottery as original pieces, and some suggestions for using the designs to style your modern home with a touch of mid-century pattern…
Read More3 Essential things to consider when planning a vintage-themed wedding
Did you get engaged over Christmas and New Year? Are you already planning your wedding for this coming summer? If so, read on to find out what three things you need to consider in order to get that vintage theme down to a tee. I’ve done a little investigating there are some essential bits and pieces to think about so I hope this post helps to inspire and encourage you!
Read MoreMy thrifty 50s kitchen renovation: DIY Retro artwork (using tea towels)
This week’s DIY project is a little different to my usual kitchen renovation posts; I’m turning some printed tea towels into framed art work for my kitchen alcove. Here’s how I did it, step-by-step…
Read MoreMid-century modern clocks – my article in Reclaim Magazine!
I love a good retro clock. Along with lamps, they’re one of the few household items that I seem to collect. I just can’t resist an interesting clock face, an iconic number style (can I refer to it as a typeface or font when talking about numbers?) or a fun frame. So it’s no wonder that I decided to write about mid-century clocks for my latest Design Icon feature in Reclaim magazine.
Read MoreStep-by-step video to restore & reupholster vintage kitchen chairs
Last week I mentioned that I’m currently working on renovating my kitchen and that I’d already revamped a few retro kitchen chairs. I’ve since been asked how I restored these junk-shop finds to their former glory so I thought I’d put together a little video to show you how to upholster a kitchen chair and renovate the wooden frame…
Read MoreWhere to find vintage kitchen accessories on a budget
If you want to revamp your home on a tight budget here are some ways to shop savvy and get the best deals on retro homewares. Plus, you could be in with a chance of winning a super-cool on-trend belly basket in my giveaway so read on to enter..!
Read MoreWhy you should add a vintage rocking horse to your period interior
Whether or not you have kids, and whether or not you have a period home, a vintage rocking horse would make a great addition to your interior. I’ve done my research and shared my own experiences, so here’s why you might want to invest in a classic retro rocker…
Read MoreHouse tour of stylist Tamsyn Morgans’ fairytale vintage home
When I first discovered stylist and photographer Tamsyn Morgans, I was blown away by her beautiful images and fairy-tale-esque interiors. Today I’m sharing a house tour of Tamsyn’s home on my blog so read on to step inside her whimsical, vintage world…
Read MorePlanning the right furniture layout for my living room (it’s taken years!)
Have you ever had a room where you just don’t know how to lay out the furniture? One with an unusual L-shape, or alcoves, or windows on two or more walls? In most rooms you can just ‘feel’ where the furniture should go and, in many modern homes, you can see exactly where the bed should go, because there are two plug sockets either side where your bedside lamps would plug in! But what if your room isn’t quote so ease to configure? Here’s what I learnt when tackling my own 1950s home…
Read More7 Indulgent recipes you’ll want to bake during National Chocolate Week
It’s Chocolate Week, hurrah! From 15th – 21st October the UK is celebrating all things chocolate, so I thought I would share 5 of my favourite chocolate recipes this week so that you can cook up something delicious and join in with Chocolate Week!
Read MoreHow to cut the cost of a Christmas stocking in half
Did you know that the average cost of a Christmas stocking adds up to over £70? Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? That’s why I jumped at the chance to cut this cost by half and share the results of my Christmas stocking haul with you today. Plus, you can win all the items in my retro stocking in my giveaway below so read on to enter the competition…
Read MoreBedroom progress – a retro-style bed & snuggly new duvet
Today I wanted to update you on our bedroom decorating project and share a quick review of my new duvet. You may remember that I’ve been waiting for my bed to be delivered and it has finally arrived! I spent the weekend with a screwdriver in my hand, assembling my new bed. What do you […]
Read MoreHow to turn an old drawer & scaffold boards into a DIY desk or hallway console table
If you’re working remotely or have got kids studying at home, you might want to DIY a desk to make home-working easier. Or you can use it as a console table to tidy up the keys, cash & post that accumulate in your entryway. Grab an old drawer & let’s DIY..!
Read MoreTake one neutral sofa – how to style your living room 6 different ways
Whether you’ve got a grey, beige, white (or even black) sofa those neutral hues can look a little bland, but they’re also a fantastic base upon which to create a variety of interior design themes. Here’s how you can style up one neutral sofa in six different ways to change the look of your interior for less…
Read MoreHow to clean & refurbish a Picquot Ware teapot + original price list
Today I’m sharing some top tips from a Picquot Ware owner on how to clean and refurbish an original teapot, along with some photos of the original range and price list…
Read MoreI’ve made the top 30 home decor blogs woo! Plus my news in May…
I’ve had some exciting news this month so I thought I’d write a quick post to share all with you..!
Read More7 Easy ways to make your living room cosy for autumn (on a budget)
Our living spaces seem to get smaller during the cooler months, don’t they? I think it’s because we’re indoors more & can’t use our gardens as much if the weather is bad. Here’s some ideas to make your living room more cosy & liveable for autumn…
Read More4 Ways I’ve personalised my gallery wall with custom artwork
While it’s incredibly cool to have a gallery wall in your home, it’s also great when the images mean something to you. There are plenty of ways to include customised artworks in your home and here are a few options to help you fill your home with pieces you love…
Read MoreDIY Christmas project – How to upcycle old toys into decorations
For me, Christmas always evokes a feeling of nostalgia so I’ve raided my childhood toybox to decorate my Christmas tree with retro toys. Here’s how to upcycle any small plastic animals or metal cars to create festive decorations for your tree…
Read More4 Hot interior trends to consider when updating your home for summer
From decorative foliage to exciting pops of colour the summer is all about bringing the light back into your home. Here’s how you can refresh your space using the 4 hottest interiors trends of the summer, and fall back in love with your home…
Read MoreCosy autumnal styling hacks from Danish, Irish & US homes
Are you feeling autumnal? Has the new season hit you yet? If you’re already putting the thick duvet on the bed and adding blankets to the sofa, this interior styling post is for you! Here’s how to get that cosy autumnal feeling in your own home, taking inspiration from Irish, Danish and American interiors…
Read More3 Ways to merge your summer living room decor style into autumn
Ahh it’s September. No sooner had the 1st of the month hit than my Pinterest and Instagram feeds became awash with autumnal colours and pumpkins. It’s like the whole online world was just waiting for summer to be over so that they could begin the wind-down into the cosy season. Here’s how to merge your decor from summer to autumn with the addition of just a few low cost accessories that’ll get your home ready for the changing season…
Read MoreDecorating inspiration & tips from Ju from Interior Design Masters
All photos of Ju’s home by Alexandra Joseph If you’ve been hooked on the new BBC TV show Interior Design Masters since it started in August, you won’t have been able to miss designer Ju de Paula. Her colourful designs and pattern clashing style are taking the show by storm. I was lucky enough to […]
Read MoreDIY Mid-century marquetry project using vinyl
Have you noticed that wood marquetry is making a comeback? I’ve spotted countless mid-century pieces with a variety of shapes and patterns adorning the wood. If you’d like to recreate this look in your own home without spending a fortune, you can upcycle your furniture yourself and here’s how…
Read MoreDIY upcycling project – 80s/90s neon splatter vinyl storage unit
Are you an LP enthusiast? Have you always been a collector, or are you new to the world of vinyl? If you need somewhere to store and play your records but want to stick to a budget, here’s a quick and easy DIY to turn an old set of shelves into a handy LP storage […]
Read MoreChristmas gift guide for kids & teens + how to help a charity gift appeal
If you’re wondering what to get your youngsters for Christmas this year, or are planning to donate to a charity Christmas gift appeal, I’ve put together a wonderful collection of fun and educational gifts for all ages – from toddlers to teens. Plus, you can win a kids’ microscope kit in my festive giveaway so read on to enter…
Read MoreExcited to share my Christmas magazine articles and thrifty blog posts
It’s been a while since I shared any of my article writing updates with you so I thought I’d pop on a few photos so you can see what I’ve been up to, including Reclaim magazine (the Christmas issue!!) a project for Recycle Week and All Things Christmas!
Read MoreMenswear: What shoes to wear with shorts in summer
Attention fellas! It’s that time of year again when you might be considering pulling on a pair of shorts and showing off your footballers legs to the world. But wait a sec before you get your pins out. What shoes are you going to wear with those shorts? Are office shoes going to look right […]
Read More4 Things you need to style your home for autumn
If you enjoy scrolling through Instagram or pinning inspirational interiors, you can’t have escaped the interiors trend for styling up your home for autumn. No sooner had September hit than my feed was filled with pumpkins and autumnal vibes – inspirational stuff. But those beautifully styled interiors had 4 things in common, so here’s my cheat-sheet of essential items you need to bring that autumnal feeling into your home…
Read MoreHow to upholster a padded topper to convert any coffee table into a footstool
Get the most out of your existing by furniture by turning a simple coffee table into a two-in-one piece of furniture that converts into a comfy footstool and back again. Here’s how to upholster a padded topper for ANY coffee table…
Read MoreLight & airy Scandi-style decor inspiration for Spring with Nicola from Lana Rose Interiors
Take a tour of Lana Rose Interior’s fresh & airy home to get inspiration for your own Scandi-style spring interior. Nicola’s genius upcycling projects will help you stick to your decorating budget while creating peaceful rooms with plenty of character…
Read More3 Ways to make your own no-sew handmade Christmas stockings
I’ve created a DIY video to show you 3 no-sew ways to make a Christmas stocking without ever picking up a needle and thread! Check out how super-quick they are to make – they’ll be hanging on your fireplace in no time..!
Read MoreSome exciting news to start the new year – my recent features & achievements!
The last month of 2018 was super exciting for me and this is the first chance I’ve had to share some photos of my recent magazine features, articles, awards and online interviews with you 🙂
Read MoreMother’s Day gift inspiration from Etsy’s local makers & artists
With Mother’s Day fast approaching and it being #MarchMeetTheMaker month on Instagram, I figured that there’s no better time for me to put together a blog post featuring some of my favourite local makers and Etsy shops.
Read MoreHow to make a sourdough starter to bake your own bread at home
If you fancy making your own sourdough starter to bake your own bread at home, I’ve shared the steps I followed to make my first loaf…
Read MoreHow to sew new sofa covers and cushions for an Ercol studio couch
Technically, re-covering my Ercol studio couches was simply a case of sewing a couple of big cushion covers, right? So how hard could it be?? Here’s how I got on when I attempted sofa upholstery for the first time…
Read MoreMy Ercol sofa makeover – finding fabrics and choosing colours
What do you do if you have a sofa but don’t like the colour of the fabric any more? Why, re-cover it, of course! Okay, okay, that’s a rather flippant way of looking at upholstery, but why not give it a go yourself? Especially if the alternative is just to get rid of the sofa and buy a brand new one. By attempting to revamp my sofa, I’ll not only save money, it’ll be keeping a bulky item out of landfill too. Let’s get aboard the upcycling train and try to make the most of what we’ve got, right?
Read MoreGuest post: How to DIY a Christmas gift hamper when you’re on a budget
If you have a quite few people to buy for this Christmas, the thrifty way to give your friends & family a treat is by creating a gift hamper. My friend Alina loves to make her own things so this year she decided to make her mum a DIY Christmas hamper full of homemade jam and other festive additions so I asked her to break down the steps she took to DIY the perfect hamper…
Read MoreHow to upcycle a mid-century cabinet into an indoor plant nursery
If you’re a big fan of house plants like me, here’s a quick and easy DIY plant nursery unit that you can make to keep all your cuttings, off-shoots and baby plants safe and cosy while they grow. You can choose a cabinet to suit the style of your home, and it looks pretty darn cool too! Here’s how to do it…
Read MoreMy thrifty 50s kitchen renovation: What’s next on the to-do list…
To be honest with you, the kitchen was one of the most disgusting rooms in our fixer-upper home. So it was kind-of the room we tackled first. It got a coat of fresh white paint (to cover up the oil-and-nicotine stained walls eww) on the day we got the keys. We’ve since painted the existing cabinets. which has freshened up the units. But there’s still plenty more to do…
Read More15 Sides hustles to do when your side hustle becomes your job
So you’ve already got a successful side hustle. SO successful in fact, that it’s now your main hustle. You’ve given up your 9-to-5 job and are working on your business full time. Congratulations! But having an extra income stream on the side is always a good idea, so you might want to consider starting some of these on-the-side-of-your-side-hustle-slash-main-hustle projects as a back-up plan and bonus income…
Read MoreHow to upcycle a pallet & charity shop trunk into a storage coffee table
Another day, another DIY! This time, it’s a classy coffee table that doubles up as handy storage. And would it even be a Cassie Fairy DIY if it didn’t include pallets?? The rustic-yet-cool chevron effect top is all refinished pallet wood – making this a money-saving project too. Read on to find out how to DIY a coffee table for yourself this autumn…
Read MoreA cosy & authentic 1957 Alpine Sprite caravan restoration project
Today I want to share some lovely photos of my friend Lisa’s caravan with you. It’s a 1957 Sprite, very similar to my little vintage caravan, but even older! Here are plenty of before and after photos of the project for you to enjoy.Lisa and I first got chatting when she asked me about where I bought […]
Read MoreHow to add a sunny splash of colour to your home decor
If you want to keep the sunshine in your home all year round, here are some interior design tricks and gorgeous homewares that’ll help you accessorise your rooms with a splash of sunny colour…
Read MoreStep-by-step upcycling project video – How to paint glass cabinet doors
I’ve given my old teak display cabinet a bit of a makeover. Previously, all the messy items I was storing inside the unit were there for all to see – and you know how much I dislike clutter. So, what was the solution? Why, to paint the cabinet doors, of course! But the doors are made entirely of glass, so it’s not as easy as using a tin of paint and a roller (although I’ve never tried that – does it work?) so I’ve put together a little DIY video so guide you through the process…
Read MoreSpace-themed decor for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing
If you too are excited about the 50th Anniversary of the lunar landing, today’s space-themed decor might give you inspiration to add a few space-esque touches to your own home. Here’s how I’ve added a few decor details to turn my neutral bedroom into a lunar-themed room…
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