Why not turn an old piece of furniture into a drinks cabinet so that you’re ready to host plenty of fun parties this festive season? Here’s a step-by-step guide to DIY a funky bar from any kind of old writing desk or bureau…
Wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to bring a whole new look to your interior. Just a roll or two can make all the difference with a feature wall that brings impact and colour. Here are three of the hottest trends, and different ways to make them work in your home…
An eco-friendly home can actually save you money in the long run and there are so many things you can do to make your property more sustainable – from DIY tasks to impressive installations. Here are a few ideas to get you started…
If you’re tackling a home revamp this year, why not consider shopping secondhand for your furniture? It’s certainly a great way to save money and lets you put your own stamp on your interior by creating something completely unique to you. Take inspiration from these talented interior Instagrammers and their 5 amazing upcycles…
If you’re looking for storage solutions to tidy up your bathroom but don’t want to splash the cash on brand-new accessories, here’s an easy way to DIY your own driftwood-style laundry bin and sink caddy using upcycled pallet wood. Let’s get started…
Playing in the garden and getting really messy is one of the joys of childhood. So why not help your children to enjoy playing with sand, mud and water outside by constructing this DIY ‘mud kitchen’ from old pallet wood…
If you’ve got old, faded and stained plastic chairs that are in need of a revamp, here’s a quick and easy way to renovate those vintage vinyl seats…
Painting feature walls has been a popular option for a very long time but, recently, the usage of wallpaper in interior design has increased – I’ve seen more patterned wallpapers on interiors Instagram accounts than ever before. Here’s why it’s become such a popular choice…
I want to make the most of the warm autumn days by getting outside and relaxing in my garden, so I’ve created a copy spot for a cuppa on my decking with a DIY living coffee table planter…
During August we’ve been enjoying the fruits of our labour with plenty of veg to harvest but we’ve also dealt with blight, non-ripening peppers & fruit trees desperate in need of pruning. Here’s how we got on & more info on the DIY greenhouse we built…
With the soaring price of wood and a need to create more growing space in my veggie patch, I’ve come up with a way to make a low-cost planter out of pieces of furniture that were headed for the skip. Here’s how…
We’ve all been spending more time in the garden lately so, if your garden furniture that could do with sprucing up, here are some tips to restore your outdoor furniture so you don’t have to replace it, but rather extend the life of your garden items…
If, like me, you’re renovating your kitchen, my recent research might help you to decide which window treatments to choose and how to save money by going for the DIY option of wooden shutters…
Do you know how hard it is to plan a new kitchen? I can’t believe just how many things there are to consider. To help you if you’re planning a kitchen revamp (and to help myself, TBH) here’s a list of everything you’ll need for a top-to-toe makeover…
Although I’m a keen DIYer, home renovations are not the same as home repairs, so it’s certainly something that needs a little more planning than simply getting out your toolbox! Here’s a guide to organising your next DIY project, step-by-step…
Moving house can cost thousands of pounds so, in the spirit of thriftiness, why not stay where you are and put that money to better use? Here are some fab home improvements that’ll increase your home’s value & help to you enjoy living there too…
Here’s a quick DIY video that shows you how to upcycle scaffold boards and offcuts of pressure-treated timber to create your own outdoor bench seat for your garden. Using scaffolding is a low-cost source of timber and you can upcycle old planks too…
I’m sure it’s the same for everyone but I feel like our garden is SO behind compared to last year! I’ve finally been able to plant out some of the hardier veggies but we’ve also built a DIY cold frame from pallet wood to keep growing our seedlings…
If you want to put up some nesting boxes and attract birds into your garden, why not upcycle them with fun colours and patterns before you install them? Here’s how I created my colourful cluster of bird ‘apartments’..!
What do you do when you’ve got a shed full of tangled tools and a spare pallet in the garden? Why, pull it apart and build a tool silhouette storage board, of course! Here’s how to DIY your own shed hanging system to organise your essential tools…
You know how something isn’t a problem until you notice it? A feature so functional that you barely see it but then realise it’s not to your taste or could be improved? Well that’s how I feel about my front door, which is why I’ve decided to revamp it…
Decluttering & spring cleaning are some of my favourite activities. I love a good clear-out & really appreciate the extra space gained by letting go of lesser-used items. Here’s how to minimise your belongings (& prevent recluttering!) this spring…
Although it doesn’t look too bad from this photo my old chest of drawers was broken & falling apart so I decided to upcycle it into not one, not two, but THREE new pieces of furniture for my home – and here are the step-by-step projects…
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…
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…
I’m not a fan of clichés BUT when it comes to decorating your home, it’s probably useful to have a few in the back of your mind before starting a task. Not only will you save lots of time & effort, but also plenty of money too! Here’s how clichés help…
If you enjoy a good book and a cuppa while soaking in a bubbly bath, today’s DIY is for you! Here’s how to build your very own bathroom storage stand using offcuts of scaffolding and upcycled broom handles to create a bath-side spot for your tea..!
To make the most of the understairs cupboard I’ve transformed the door into a ‘doorganiser’ – a place to store essentials, create a weekly planner for the family & write shopping lists. Here’s how to make your own door organiser by upcycling DIY offcuts…
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..!
Welcome to my festive pallet project! I’ve DIYed a friendly freestanding snowman to adorn your lawn and the best part is that he doubles-up as a family game. I’ve teamed up with DIY website ManoMano to show you how to make this dapper snowman for yourself.
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…
Seeing as the majority of items in my home & wardrobe are second-hand (or rescued from a skip), Recycle Week gives me a chance to shout about all the fab things you can make from unwanted furniture or waste materials – such as these fun upcycling DIYs…
Through renovating my own home I’ve come to realise just how much value can be added to a property by decorating, remodelling and extending – in more ways than one…
Hallways can be tricky spaces to decorate. Even though you only pass through them, they link all the other rooms together and the flooring needs to be hardwearing in such a hard traffic area. While working on my own hallway I pulled together some practical makeover ideas…
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…
Eeeee it’s so exciting! After many years of admiring the work of other Interior Blog Award winners – and even writing about some of their homes for Reclaim magazine – I’ve finally been nominated! Please can you help me get through to the shortlist by voting for me??
While writing about home restorations for Reclaim magazine, I’ve heard many stories from homeowners who uncovered problems during their property renovation. Here are some handy tips for renovating a Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian home…
If you fancy saving money on decking but still want to get a good result in your garden, I’ve shared a step-by-step guide to make this deck for yourself – using pallet wood…
It’s been a while since I posted any updates on my little vintage caravan makeover but that doesn’t mean it’s been put on hold. While a lot of work has already been done, there’s still a lot more to do – some of it rather more practical than aesthetic. Here’s what I’ve been up to…
If you’ve got a rusty old bicycle that has seen better days, don’t chuck it out just yet – you can renovate it to give it a new lease of life, or upcycle it to use as a pretty planter in your cottage garden. Here’s how to revamp your old bike…
If you’re using a lap tray for your lunch or to hold snacks during film night, it’ll probably get sticky & icky quickly. Even after wiping them down regularly & being careful with spills, they still ended up with little stains & grease marks on the surface. Here’s how to give a lap tray a quick makeover with self-adhesive vinyl…
I’ve been DIYing again and this time I’ve made some nightstands for the bedroom. It’s a simple project that makes use of old drawers from a broken chest to create bedside tables – here’s how…
If you fancy giving your kitchen a new look, there’s no need to splash out on an entirely new installation. Even melamine cupboards can be revamped with spray paint! Here’s a step by step video to show you how to makeover your cabinets…
We have a brick outbuilding that has seen better days so I wanted to spruce up the exterior a little to make it look a little nicer in our garden. Here are some photos of my quick DIY makeover…
The original pallet bar project been repurposed – and for good reason. I’ve decided growing veg is more important than having an alfresco G&T, so I’ve given over my much-loved pallet bar to create a nursery space for my seedlings. Here’s how…
We’ve been relying on online orders more over the past month so I thought it would be a good idea to build a parcel box and share the step-by-step project. But how do you build a delivery box without going shopping for DIY materials..?
As a homeowner, you may be looking to do some improvements while you’re spending more time at home but lack the cash to dedicate to materials. The cost of a home renovation in 2020 averages at around £55 or $60 per square foot, according to findings by HomeAdvisor. Luckily, there are some trending home improvements that cost very little. Just like designing a low-cost garden, all you need is some spit, grit, and a little imagination..!
If you’re spending more time in the garden and need a project to work on, here’s an easy DIY that you can complete in a day. And, if you’re anything like me, you probably already have all of the materials you need lying around on your wood pile, or perhaps you’ve got a pallet stowed behind the shed? Here’s how to turn that old timber into something useful…
If you’ve got your mum coming to stay for Mother’s Day this year, why not give her the hotel experience with a mini makeover for your guest room? Plus, I’ve shared a DIY project to turn an old photo frame into a breakfast tray so that you can bring your mother breakfast in bed too…
If you want to get a high-end look for your furniture but are on a flat-pack budget, don’t despair. It can be done! Today I’m sharing three of designer Melanie Lissack’s amazing IKEA transformations to inspire you…
If you’ve spotted my pallet bar around the internet (and on the TV now, thanks to Kirstie Allsopp!) you may be interested to see today’s pallet project – a Spanish-style wine tavern pallet bar with summery stenciled pattern…
When my pallet bar popped up on the TV last week, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It appeared on Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It show and I am chuffed to bits! Here’s a video of that exciting moment..!
January is probably the worst time of year to be without heating, right? It’s frosty outside today, I shivvered my way around the shops yesterday and the wind is whipping around the house. However, now that I’m indoors with the heating on, I’m nice and cosy despite the cold temperatures outside. But that was a completely different story last week when our boiler broke down…
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…
Does your home smell a little foisty? Do you have condensation on your windows? Is there a little patch of mould in the corner of your room? At this time of year it’s easy for sealed, heated homes to become breeding grounds for mould but don’t worry, it’s a problem that you can solve yourself – here’s how…
I was getting close to completing my DIY kitchen renovation but it all went spectacularly wrong last week. If you’ve read my blog, you’ll know that my kitchen ceiling now has about 60 holes in it! So it’s back to the drawing board for more kitchen inspo…
Well, my year has got off to a cracking start..! If you detected a hint of sarcasm in that first sentence, you’d be right. A mysterious water problem quickly turned into a day of emergency repairs, with floorboards taken up, holes drilled and plumbing problems. Here’s what happened…
Let’s kick off the new decade with the excitement of further home renovations (yes, I’m still at it!) and embracing new technology within the home…
Over the years I’ve lived in some rather small homes and it’s been difficult to decorate for Christmas in such a compact space. However, that’s never stopped me from filling my home with festive decor each December and, in fact, I’ve quite enjoyed the challenge of making my own DIY space-saving Christmas trees. Here are three ways to upcycle pallets, pipes and paint to create your own unique festive decor that doesn’t take up too much space…
I’ve been looking ahead to 2020 and making plans for our life and home. With plenty more renovation work on the horizon, I need to think ahead to make sure everything gets done! So, if like me you’re thinking of doing some work on your home in the New Year here are some thing you should consider before you get started…
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…
You won’t believe it but, after months (okay, years) of complaining to you about my horrible hallway, the space has finally been decorated! We really
When planning a kitchen makeover, it’s surprisingly easy to make aesthetic decisions that might actually be less cost-effective in the long run. So, if you’re researching a renovation project and need to make decisions about your appliances, here are three things to consider to help you save money going forward…
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…
As you might be able to tell from my previous blog post, I’ve been DIYing this week. With that in mind, I thought I would share some nuggets of DIY wisdom (or words of warning, perhaps..?!) that I’ve come across during my decorating…
This staircase painting technique can be used either way – painting the centre or the sides of the steps – to give the effect of a runner on your stairs without you having to splash out for a rug, runner or carpet. Here’s how to DIY a staircase runner, the easy way!
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…
It’s been a busy couple of months and I’ve been lucky enough to write a couple of interiors feature for issue 42 and issue 43 of Reclaim magazine. Plus, I’ve also written some blog post elsewhere around the internet so here are the links if you want to check them out..!
Old and stained double-glazed doors can make your entire home look tired, and no amount of cleaning can get them back to their box-fresh whiteness. PVC doors can be costly to replace so why not spruce them up with a coat of paint? Not possible? Here’s how I revamped my ugly kitchen door with a vibrant pop of colour to keep summery vibes in my home for longer..!
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
Please take care, stay safe and use common sense when following the advice, projects, recipes or ideas from Cassiefairy.com.
Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk.
Please read our Terms and Conditions, our Privacy Policy and Disclosure for more information. Thanks!
Please agree to the use of cookies to continue using this website. More info
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Cookies store information about a user’s interaction with a site but no personal details. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Any information gathered is anonymous and will not be used for marketing purposes. Read our Privacy Policy for more information.
