If you’re getting married next year – congratulations! I’m sure you already have the ceremony arranged and the venue booked, and maybe you’ve even picked out a wedding dress. But have you started on your decorations yet? If not, here are three decor pieces that you certainly don’t need to
If you’ve never bought from an auction house before it’s a fun, action-packed second-hand shopping experience that could save you ££s so here’s how to start buying at auctions without – & here’s the best bit – leaving the comfort of your own home…!
For this month’s Reclaim magazine I wrote about Ercol for the mid-century modern Design Icon column. And my research led me to some surprising results…
Timeless decor items will be different for every person, but once you find them it can give a sense of comfort and permanence to your house. Plus, I’m a firm believer in ‘buy well, buy once’ so it’s a good idea not to follow interiors trends with your bigger investment
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
So your family is expanding (congratulations!) and you need to upsize from your current home. Moving house is an exciting time, but it can also be a complicated and stressful process. Adding this on top of your already-busy family life can create frustration for parents so I want to help
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
It’s back-to-school time again and, as such, my thoughts have turned to kids’ rooms and how to design the space so that it suits them and their studying needs. Research suggests that children and their development are affected positively when they are surrounded by soft and safe environments, which is
It’s easy to add warmth & autumnal vibes to your home & today’s blog post is all about using more wood in your decor. Just imagine the rustic, cosy look you can achieve with just a few low-cost items – here are 4 ideas to help you get the look
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.
OMG your bestie has just asked you to be maid of honour at her wedding, yay! What a great honour! But with this honour comes great responsibility, too. Because being the M.O.H is so much more than being the female version of a best man. You’ll be chief opinion-giver for
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
It’s finally happened! I have my very own finished home office! I’m sat at my wall-to-wall DIY desk as we speak, uploading tons of photos to this blog post and I can’t wait to show you everything in this room tour of my home office…
I know it seems crazy to be talking about heating when the weather is like this – but it won’t always quite as delightful as it is right now! That’s why I wanted to help you plan ahead for the autumn and get most of your heating maintenance out of
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…
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…
Good windows are essential in keeping a home cosy, which is why it’s important to care for your windows and occasionally carry out some maintenance. But how do you know if your windows need repairing? Natural causes such as the weather can have an effect on your home, but windows
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
After going to the 24 hour festival First Light last weekend and realising just how much sleep I actually do need, I’ve being doing some research into ways to sleep better. Today’s blog post contain a few of the tech-related tips that could help you to tune out and get
If you’re planning a party for adults (or for teens too, I guess!) why not make it a Bob Ross themed event? Think curly hair, canvases and happy little trees and you’ve got the beginnings of an epic painting party that’ll stretch your creative skills and have you giggling for
If you’re looking for an affordable kitchen update, you don’t need to completely rip everything out and start again. Today I’m sharing some easy ways that you can refresh your kitchen and follow the 2019 kitchen trends for less…
Home improvement doesn’t have to be as expensive as it’s made out to be, and today’s blog post offers a few different methods of creating some easy improvements on the cheap, without going overboard with the power tools…
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
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
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
Spring has sprung, and summer is on its way! You’ve probably already gotten started on your spring renovation projects, but have you considered those less-than-glamorous home maintenance jobs that need to be done as well? Summer is the best time to take care of a few quick fixes and clean-ups
I’ve had some exciting news this month so I thought I’d write a quick post to share all with you..!
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…
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…
“But travelling is expensive” is the usual response when thrifty people chose to push back another trip of a lifetime. However, just like shopping for bargain fashion finds, DIYing storage solutions or upcycling charity shop finds for a home office – there ARE ways to make travel accessible, cheaper and,
It’s the Easter holidays and for many of us that means our first trip away of the year. If you are taking a break this month, here are some ways to make your journey and holiday stress-free so that you can enjoy your hard-earned time off…
What? Dinner in bed? Didn’t you even get up today? Actually, it’s not about laziness – in fact, eating in bed is one of the newest trends to emerge in 2019. Here’s why eating in bed has become so popular & how you can do it the thrifty way…
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
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…
If you’ve never meditated before, you may not think that this Buddhist technique if for you. But wait – you may be surprised to discover just how many problems meditation can help with…
Did you know that there are things in your wardrobe that you only need to buy ONCE? If you choose the right item in the first place, you can get that cost-per-wear down to pennies! Here’s 3 accessories to get you started:
Winter may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean you’re ready to fling open all the windows yet! There may still be a few more weeks of cold days (and even colder nights) to come. But heating your home during the bitter chilly winter months shouldn’t cost your entire monthly
If this chair feels familiar to you, you may have seen it somewhere before. In a film perhaps? Was a certain secret agent sitting in it with a glass of martini (shaken, not stirred) in his hand? Read on to find out more about the iconic Leo Chair by Robin
In case you’ve been wondering what I’ve been up to so far in 2019, I thought I’d share my recent news with you including my latest articles and an unexpected accolade..!
Even though a kitchen revamp can be costly, a few simple changes to the room – a new wall colour or a few trendy décor pieces – can add value to your home with very little outlay. Here are some more design ideas to effectively update your kitchen without overspending…
Every now and again, most homeowners seek a change; something that will give a fresh new look to their home or a project that will reflect their changing needs or personal preferences. If the time has come to give your bathroom a nice uplift and create a more luxury look,
Weddings are rarely budget-friendly and more often than not, both the bride and groom end up spending a fortune on their big day. However, if you plan in advance, every wedding is filled with a multitude of cost saving opportunities. Here, are 6 tips to help you save big on
It’s not too late to make a New Year’s Resolution, especially when it comes to personal finances. If your bank balance is still bruised from the festive season or if you just want to make some positive changes to your budget, here are five helpful tips I think can help
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 🙂
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
If you’re looking for a truly unique gift this Christmas, you’ve got to go handmade. Etsy is a great marketplace to find items that have been crafted by artisans and creatives so that’s where I’ve been shopping this year. Here are some festive gift ideas for all members of the
If you want to learn more about creating your very own smart home (without rewiring your whole house!) today’s blog post is for you! I’m sharing my honest experience of smart lighting for the first time, plus I’ve got a Phillips Hue Starter Kit to give away to one lucky
Last week, we went for a rummage in the local charity shops and found two boxes of glass baubles to add to our collection. So, for the first time in a long time, our tree has a colour scheme! I decorated my tree on Sunday so I thought I’d share
If you’re thinking of taking a break over the festive season, I’ve come up with some ideas for a Christmas getaway that you’ll never forget…
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…
With every type of information, product and service available on the internet, it’s never been easier to take control of your life and future. Online services can make your life admin easier and even help you change your career so here are five important things you can do online to
If you long to create the home office of your dreams but have been shocked by the price of office storage furniture, today’s DIY project could be the solution. Here’s how to upcycle a rusty old filing cabinet so that you can add castors for a flexible office configuration, or
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
Garden decking can help transform your garden into an extra entertaining space. It makes it the ideal place to enjoy an alfresco dinner or to throw a garden party for your friends. Here’s how to install a deck in your garden at a fraction of the cost..
Home décor is an essential part of happy living. But it doesn’t need to cost a fortune to look good and can actually make you feel happy to come back home in the evening. Here a few of things you can easily use to decorate your bedroom with the least
Even though it may seem like your autumn wedding means endless spending, really there are only THREE wedding components that are worth investing money in. If you prioritise these three areas when setting your budget, everything else will naturally fall into place – without the need to spend a fortune
Think that buying Halloween decorations for your home is a waste of money? Think again! Here are some spooky homewares that will actually look good in your home for the rest of the year too…
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!
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,
There are certain tools no kitchen should be without, especially when cooking hearty meals during the colder months – do you have them in your cupboards?? Read on to find out which kitchen essentials you’ll need to create healthy dinners this autumn…
Many people hold back from replacing their carpet because they are overwhelmed by the decisions involved; plush piles or loop piles? Which fibre should you invest in? How do you know if the colour will suit the room? While it’s true that there are different factors to consider, choosing the
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
If you’re happily coupled up and are starting to look at engagement rings, this is the blog post for you! The trouble with engagement and wedding rings is that the price tag is often way beyond our reach. I mean, would you rather spend money on the ring, or the
I was watching How to Shop Well for Less last week and couldn’t believe how much it’s possible to spend on a handbag! I’ve never spent more than £15, I’m sure! But maybe I’m the exception and many people might not be able to find the bag of their dream
Offering holiday accommodation in your spare room is a great way of making a little extra cash. But how do you do it? Here are some easy ways to keep a spare room useful for yourself AND comfortable enough for Airbnb guests.
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
They always say ‘write what you know’ don’t they? So, I couldn’t ignore my instinct to talk about this British brand with as many people as possible. I sat at my laptop and blurted out all the knowledge I’d gained over the years and then carefully spent many hours refining
Today I’ve teamed up with online DIY retailer DIYDirect.com to give you some advice when it comes to decorating – and in particular, how you can be as thrifty as possible in your project…
If you’re tossing and turning in bed at night, it could be down the scorching hot weather we’ve been having recently. OR it could be your bed that’s giving you sleepless nights. If you’re thinking of updating your bedroom with a new bed – or even just a new mattress
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…
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